ABOUT US
There are 29 church towers in West Oxfordshire, 25 of which have ringable bells
Bell ringers practice one night a week, usually between the hours of 7:30 pm – 9:00pm, when we learn how to ring up bells, ring call changes, ring methods, ring them down, and then adjourn to the pub! We also ring the bells for Sunday services at the churches where we practice, usually just the main Sunday service, but also for special occasions like Easter, Christmas, and New Year. We have annual tower dinners and outings, and branch outings to other parts of the country.
Some of us attend the services, some don’t, and you do not have to be a member of the congregation to ring the bells at a particular church. In fact, bell ringing is a truly international hobby as ringers are welcomed at most towers all over the world, in countries as far apart as France, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada.
How it works
Bell Ringing
Bell ringing is a sociable hobby, where people from 9 to 90 meet to make the wonderful music of English full circle change ringing. Instead of the clamorous clashing of bells you hear outside the United Kingdom, change ringing is precise and musical and part of the unique soundtrack of our nations.
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The Ringing World
The Ringing World is a weekly magazine produced by ringers, for ringers, about ringers and bell ringing.
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Change Ringing Toolkit
Diagrams for the majority of CCCBR library of methods at Stages; Minimus, Doubles, Minor, Triples and Major
Patience
Learning to safely control a lump of metal with a flexible rope is a bit like learning to ride a bike. Frustrating but worth the effort!
Listen
Learning to be conducted by the ringing master, and learning to listen to the note of your own bell amongst the music is key!
Concentration
Leave all the troubles of the day at the tower door, as you will have to concentrate 100% on your ringing!
The secret of success
Learners can be handling a bell safely after only a few lessons. If you catch the bug, you will never stop learning!
Join us! It will only take a minute
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Branch Representative
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Social Secretary
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Health & Safety
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Training
Ringer testimonials
Some of the things people love about ringing
It gets me out of the house in the evening and is a great stress reliever. You have to concentrate on your ringing or it is easy to go wrong, so you leave all your troubles at the tower door.
Witney Ringer
Ringing is one of the cheapest hobbies you can imagine! It costs just £8 per year to join the branch and Guild, and you get to play the original “heavy metal”!
woodstock ringer
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