Starting to Ring
So you want to learn how to ring? Great! But, you may ask, how and where do I start? Below is our guide to help you get started.
1. Am I suitable?
Yes, anyone from any background what so ever can learn to ring. All we ask is that you are comfortable with climbing steep, spiral staircases (excl. ground floor rings). Strength is surprisingly not important in ringing as it's the technique that counts. We also ask that you are over 7-8 years of age (depending on the tower) as this is likely to be when you are able to control a bell safely. If you have any concerns, please contact us and we can try to answer any questions you may have. Lastly, ringing is a very inclusive community and no matter your race, religion or sexual orientation, ringing is open to everyone.
Q: I am not religious or not Christian, can I still ring?
A: YES, you do not have to be religious at all to be a ringer. Most ringers, ring for the enjoyment gained not only from ringing but the large social aspect gained by being a ringer. Ringers of all faiths and none ring together for weddings, services, funerals and practises.
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2. Where?
In the UK, specific areas are broken down into associations or guilds (in most cases, dependant on counties however, lot's of areas like cities and historical counties still go by their original association/guild according to historical boundaires). Some towers are also part of multiple associations. Barrow-in-Furness is a perfect example of both of these. Historically part of Lancashire, it is now part of Cumbria but is still a member of the Lancashire Association (LACR) and is also a member of the Carlisle Guild (CDGCBR). Associations/guilds are further broken down into branches such as Barrow which forms part of the Furness Branch of the LACR and the western branch of the CDGCBR.
When looking for a tower, visit: https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/dove.php and enter your postcode to find a tower/association near you. Once you have done this, you should find towers that ring in your area and the association they are part of. There should be contact information available. Contact the tower captain (person in charge of ringing at that tower) to enquire about starting to learn. If you need help with this or would like us to find a tower for you, please contact us.
3. Starting to Ring
Thankfully, that's the hard bit over. Now you can concentrate on actually starting to ring. You will start with the basics such as how a bell works (check the right hand side for some diagrams that may be of use) and the fundamentals of ringing - the two strokes (hand stroke and back stroke) and then you're off. Don't worry if progress is slow to start with or if another learner is progressing faster than you, we all learn at different speeds and have different ways of learning. If you are struggling with anything, your teacher will be your main port of call or you can check out our other sections for tips such as our 'Handling a Bell' section.