BELL RINGING

Richard has been ringing church bells for about 20 years. Bell ringing has a long tradition in England stretching back to 400AD.  Read on to learn more about this fascinating activity . Richard is a senior philosophy student in the Midlands.

Richard Scarth, Birmingham, UK

Since my teenage years, the sound of church bells has always been fascinating.  Then 20 years ago, in my mid-50s, with my local church just a five-minute walk from home, it was the ideal time for me to have a go. 

At last I was going to find out what went on behind those doors leading to the spiral staircase up to the ringing rooms.  These rooms across England are frequented weekly by over 40,000 ringers. 

Of the thousands of church towers worldwide with ‘full circle ringing’ (see below), the vast majority are in England.  If you have spent any time here, almost certainly you will have heard the sound of church bells.  Across the countryside, in towns and cities, church bells are the second most recognisable part of the soundscape after bird song. 

Continue reading the full article here to find out more about bell ringing and how the bells are rung.