To learn campinology as someone who identifies as a pagan/witch?

[Witchbells]

Honestly, just looking for opinions as to if this is offensive.

My local church was asking for people to learn how to ring bells and keep the tradition going. I find the tradition itself interesting and despite obviously not following the Christian faith I find the history and atmosphere of a church compelling and have always loved the sound of the bells. I can respect the belief and the comfort it brings.

I am however a loosely practicing pagan, I observe the high days and attend a weekly circle.

I’am fairly certain it won’t come up in conversation and they know I don’t attend church, but at a practice meeting at the church the other day, another newbie made a throwaway comment about something being like ‘witchcraft’ and was obviously shut down.

I now am wondering if I’m being incredibly disrespectful for wanting to learn this skill?

I obviously wouldn’t advertise my beliefs.

I think you need as many hobbies as you can get.

I'm a Christian and I don't see a problem.

Oh please go for it! But it is campanology.

I attend church every Sunday. Literally none of the bell ringers at my church actually attend the church services that they ring the bells for and meticulously practice for. I think it's just a hobby for all of them, although I have no idea if they think of themselves as Christian because they don't actually hang around post-bellringing to talk to any of us or share the coffee/biscuits they'd get if they came to the service!
I don't mind this at all, BTW, but I would be curious to get chatting to them and find out more about them all, as they're very dedicated to ringing the bells!

Thank you for the correction! :-)

Both a witch and a bell ringer. The former never comes up in any conversation anywhere ever. The latter are just grateful for people wanting to try. You’re overthinking it.

It’s a fun hobby and great exercise both physically and mentally.
Try it.

Another Christian here saying go for it. Most of our bell ringers don’t attend services. I’m very grateful they do it as one of our bells has been sounding in our village since 1472!!!

Thank you!

I wasn’t sure if it’d be seen as disrespectful, though I wouldn’t advertise it I do have witchy tattoos and get asked a lot about them.

I'm a bell ringer and go down to church afterwards.
There are loads of people who have bell ringing as a hobby; maybe about half go to church.
After practice night most ringers go to the local pub and they are fascinating people.
You just wouldn't believe who you would come across!
I'm just getting ready for my practice tonight.
Please do this; it's fascinating!

I used to be a bell ringer. They don’t tend to be church goers in my experience. We used to get a few mathematicians tbh because it’s all about the numbers.

I agree with others on the thread - I’m a bellringer. Most bellringers are not churchgoers and many are not Christians. I agree about the pub going and meeting all sorts of people. I’m glad I learned. I got a whole new social circle out of it.

There might be an expectation that once you have learned you ring for Sunday services (although unlikely to be any sort of expectation that you go to the services) and possibly other services as well.

Campanology is the study of bellringing, not bellringing itself.

As long as you don’t actively ridicule Christianity, wear clothing which promotes witchcraft or talk about it then they really won’t mind. The older generation can be a bit more prickly on witchcraft than younger ones (personally as a Christian I think it’s a bit silly by hey ho, whatever, we go Halloween etc). As an example, not bell ringing but a church choir as in singing in services, we had a Hindu, a Jew and a Muslim with a whole bunch of agnostics and atheists! Nobody minded at all, you need to be sympathetic to the church but not actually practicing the beliefs basically

Whatever rings your bell, really 😀🔔

Oh and our bell ringers often will ring for 4 services - 9.30, 10, 10.30 and 11 which are at 4 different churches, not sure what that says for green credentials as they are across quite a few miles in total

A lot of paganism was incorporated into Christianity in the UK. It was common when local traditions and religions moving into new areas merged traditions (same with voodoo and christianity around New Orleans and hindi symbolism around Islamic sites in Lahore).

Our churches are literally littered with pagan symbols so they’re probably closer beliefs than you think.

Well I'm a Buddhist, and I love the sound of church bells, and from now on when I hear them I'm going to imagine them being rung by pagans, wiccans, and a variety of other folk, which has never occurred to me before. If asked I would have assumed bell ringers to be Christian so I'm tickled pink to hear that they're often not!
You sound lovely @Witchbells. ☺️

@mamagogo1 are you saying paganism is silly or that the older generation getting prickly about it is silly?

I remember a ringer from a few years back who carried herbs in her bag for what she told me was hex protection. I guess she could have been a witch , but it didn't occur to me at the time.

Husband is an atheist (as am I), he is really enjoying learning to ring and maintain the bells at our local church. He climbs up the ladder once a week and winds and adjusts the clock. The vicar is well aware that we are non believers but is more than happy to have him ringing.

I am however a loosely practicing pagan, I observe the high days and attend a weekly circle.

This is known by many as being a 'plastic pagan', especially along with the witchy tattoos.

In other words, you're not seen as taking it particularly seriously.

So I'm not sure the church would be too bothered but if you think they might, just have a word with them.

Yes, please do it if you want to. British church bells are a beautiful and magical tradition and we need enthusiastic people to keep it going - it's a big commitment

Thank you everyone for your thoughts! It seems to be a resounding yes so that’s good.

I’ve wanted to do it for years and I’m just happy for the opportunity to learn.

The church has bells from 1370 (I think that was it!) and I find it fascinating thinking of all the people, of all beliefs and faiths that have have listened to them, used them to measure time, or celebrate or mourn over the centuries.

I’ve not heard the term, but this is not how I see myself. I take it very seriously and have done for years but practicing in the way I do works for me currently, however my faith is always evolving.

The tattoos are simply for me, not an example of how serious I’am regarding my practice.

Thank you for the information.

I am an atheist and wondered if it would be 'wrong' to take up bellringing. I am so glad I did! I've met some lovely people and it's so much fun. I've never been asked about my beliefs. I've occasionally been invited to attend church services and have just said they are not my thing. I don't think you have anything to worry about. You may be surprised how open minded and kind people can be if you are open about your beliefs. We've got one ringer who is a member of a commune for example. Nobody bats an eyelid.

I am a bell ringer. I don't attend but probably 1/3 do. I consider myself church adjacent. I'm glad the church is there, in a vicar of dibley kind of way.

I barely know what jobs anyone else ringing does, so other hobbies don't really come up