Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Does anyone do bell ringing?

15 replies

Blurryeyedbeast · 02/03/2023 09:54

My local church are looking for new campanologists.

I've always been interested in it but I am a bit apprehensive as I know nothing much about what it involves beyond the obvious!

I spoke to the fella who said to just turn up for the practice tonight. I'm a tad nervous!
I also don't go to church and wonder if that'll be something I'll be looked at strangely for?

Any advice/experiences to share?

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 02/03/2023 09:56

I dont have any experience but my dd (21) went bell ringing a few weeks back and really enjoyed it, she was scared at first as shes quite shy and didnt want to mess up but once she got into it she really enjoyed it. Go for it op!

DemBonesDemBones · 02/03/2023 09:58

My Daughter has been ringing since she was 9, she's 15 now. She absolutely loves it!

Eileen101 · 02/03/2023 09:58

I wasn't part of the regular bell ringing at our church, but would loved to have been. I gave it a go and it was so fun.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat - when my kids are old enough for me to go out to practice in the evening and/or sit nicely during a service (dad is in the choir), I'll problem volunteer.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Philosophy & religion
PuttingDownRoots · 02/03/2023 10:01

Great for toning arm muscles and teamwork.

Give it a try. They will teach you, not just let you loose on the heaviest bell.

Namechangedforspooky · 02/03/2023 10:02

I used to bell ring in my teens. It’s surprisingly sociable and IME very few of the ringers actually went to the services.
Weddings used to be quite lucrative as a teenager too. It’s an easy skill to pick up, the difficult part is learning all the methods (patterns) for ringing.
I think they’re called methods anyway, it’s. 20 odd years ago. I had a book of diagrams to learn
Its great fun and they will tell you to remember every pull is a public performance!

MagpiePi · 02/03/2023 10:03

I used to go as a child as a friend's dad was the tower captain. It was a really friendly group of people of all ages, and we got paid - 5p for practices, 10p for Sunday services and a massive 50p for weddings!
You don't need to be religious, it doesn't take lots of strength but you do need a little bit of coordination.
Give it a go!

MagpiePi · 02/03/2023 10:04

Namechangedforspooky · 02/03/2023 10:02

I used to bell ring in my teens. It’s surprisingly sociable and IME very few of the ringers actually went to the services.
Weddings used to be quite lucrative as a teenager too. It’s an easy skill to pick up, the difficult part is learning all the methods (patterns) for ringing.
I think they’re called methods anyway, it’s. 20 odd years ago. I had a book of diagrams to learn
Its great fun and they will tell you to remember every pull is a public performance!

I could never get the hang of how you learned methods beyond Plain Hunt!

Original poster
Blurryeyedbeast · 02/03/2023 10:12

Thank you for all the replies!

I am going to give it a go. I am strong but lack of co-ordination could be a problem I guess-I've got two left feet.

Wonder if there's anything online that could help me figure it out goes to google All I'd learned so far is that it is incorrect to call it campanology-but that's what the advertisement called it!

OP posts:
FinnJuhl · 02/03/2023 10:19

I teach bell ringing and this website is a good place to start:

ART

FinnJuhl · 02/03/2023 10:24

Sorry, would have added more, but it kept losing my link! The website 'Association of Ringing Teachers' has loads of info about bell ringing. 🔔

My key advice is take it slow and focus of correct technique to build up muscle memory. There's a big push to get more ringers in time for the Coronation, but if you take time getting the foundation stage right, you'll have a much more enjoyable ringing journey. Good Luck!

FinnJuhl · 02/03/2023 10:26

Oh yes, and before you go tonight, check whatever you are wearing will keep you comfortable and decent if you stretch your arms over your head.

inappropriateraspberry · 02/03/2023 10:31

I know the bell ringers at our church don't actually go to church! They just enjoy ringing.

Setyoufree · 02/03/2023 10:36

A lot of bell ringers don't go to church so noone will think you're weird.

Wear comfortable clothes that you can lift your arms over your head in. Be patient with yourself, it can take a while for all the pieces to fall into place.

I did it for years and loved it. I couldn't be doing with all the ridiculous covid rules they put in place at the time so stopped then and have fallen out of the habit. I might try and get back at some point.

tatteddear · 02/03/2023 10:41

Me. Love it! Great arm wok out too

Bimbleberries · 02/03/2023 10:48

I had a friend who was learning and she had a website to learn the methods, that involved pressing a key when it was the right time for her particular bell in that pattern or something. She spent ages doing it (she was a bit of a perfectionist and she also enjoyed it). I've lost touch with her so don't know how she got on, as she moved from that area.

I know several others who were involved in a different group, and they all seemed a friendly bunch, with a few eccentrics amongst them. I think that is usually down to luck, though. They'd go on ringing tours around the country sometimes, and there were competitions that some of them were involved in too. And they seemed to have various social events including the pub after practices and things on Sundays too.

Most of them didn't go to the services, as they'd be too busy ringing beforehand and by the time they were done and ready to go, the service was underway.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page