Gripped by the Bells

by Wood Scofield Sharow Bellringers Tower Captain
Two years ago I returned to something I had not done for 45 years — ringing church bells. I learned first when I was twelve, and I never imagined that taking it up again would capture my attention quite so completely. Yet here I am, still going strong and, if anything, feeling as though I am only just getting started!
People sometimes say, “What keeps you interested? All you do is pull on a rope!” But there is much more to it than that. I often compare bell ringing to playing golf. Almost anyone can swing a golf club and hit a ball, but hitting it straight and exactly the right distance takes skill and practice.
Ringing a bell is rather similar. The aim is to make the bell strike at exactly the right moment — accurate to a fraction of a second. The interesting challenge is that when you pull the rope, the bell does not sound immediately. It actually strikes about a second later. That means the ringer must constantly adjust their timing so that the bell sounds in perfect rhythm with the others.
Every bell is also different. Bells in a tower vary greatly in weight, and each one has its own feel. A lighter bell needs a gentler touch, while a heavier bell may require more strength it also needs accurate control. As ringers ring different bells, and move to other towers, they must adapt quickly between very light bells to some weighing well over 20 hundredweight.
What fascinates me just as much is that we are continuing a tradition that has been part of parish life in this country for over 500 years. Across the nation, bells have rung out for weddings, funerals, feast days, national celebrations and times of remembrance. Bell ringing is a wonderful and living part of our national heritage.
The system we use today has remained unchanged since the late 16th century/early 17th century.  It is beautifully simple and yet very clever. Each bell is attached to a large wheel and a long rope which allows the ringer to swing it through a full circle. The mechanism holds the bell balanced almost upside down between each stroke, giving the ringer precise control over when it strikes. The bell can be ‘stood’ upside down when it is at a place of rest until another band is assembled in the ringing chamber below and ringing recommences.
This control over the bells made something unique possible — change ringing. Instead of simply ringing together, the bells change the order in which they strike, producing constantly shifting patterns.
Before this development, church bells had already been used for centuries. From about the 6th century, they called people to worship, marked the hours of prayer, and signalled important events. Even earlier, travelling monks carried handbells as they moved from village to village, gathering people together to hear the Gospel read aloud.
Another thing that keeps ringing interesting is that it exercises the brain. Change ringing involves remembering and following patterns as the order of the bells changes.
The simplest form is called “call changes.” The bells start in their natural order, called rounds:
1 2 3 4 5 6
The conductor then calls instructions for two bells to swap places. For example, “2 to 3” would change the order to:
1 3 2 4 5 6
With six bells there are 720 possible combinations, and with seven bells that number jumps to 5,040.
At Ripon Cathedral there are twelve bells (actually thirteen, allowing for musical flexibility). If every possible combination on twelve bells were rung, it would take around 32½ years of continuous ringing to complete them all!
The other style of ringing is called method ringing, where the pattern changes automatically with every stroke. Each bell follows a particular path through the sequence, weaving up and down through the order until eventually the bells return to rounds again. It can look complicated written down, but when it comes together it creates a wonderfully flowing rhythm.
Another delight for many ringers is the age of the bells themselves. North Yorkshire is home to some remarkably historic bells. The oldest recorded bell in England is at Marton-cum-Grafton and dates from 1293. Closer to home, the six heaviest bells at St John’s the Divine Church were cast in 1824, with two lighter bells added in 1871. Other nearby towers also have historic bells still ringing today — for example at St Mary the Virgin Church, Kirklington, where one bell was cast in 1617, and at St Nicholas Church in West Tanfield where a bell from 1685 continues to sound across the village.
So yes — I am a campanology enthusiast! But bell ringing is not just about ropes, wheels, and ancient bells. It is about worship, celebration, fellowship, valuing a part of our unique national heritage, and the joy of contributing to the life of the church and community.
At St John’s we are passionate about our ringing and always delighted to welcome people who are curious about it. Whether you would like to learn to ring or simply come and watch and listen, you would be very welcome. We currently have a waiting list for learners, but we hope to teach as many people as we can — helping to ensure that this remarkable tradition continues to ring out for generations to come.
To get involved contact Bridget 07752981346[email protected]
If you’d like to support St John’s bell restoration, please visit https://Justgiving.com/campaign\appealforapeal