More church bell ringers are urgently needed across Dorset in time for the coronation of Charles III this May – could you help?
by Jennie Pease, Dorset County Association of Church Bell Ringers

How many times have you walked past a church on a sunny Saturday and enjoyed the beautiful sound of the bells pealing in celebration of a wedding?
Perhaps you have heard the bells calling the faithful to church, whether you attend or not. Church bell ringing is an ancient and fascinating art that has been practiced and developed for more than 300 years. Your knowledge of what is involved may be limited to adverts for Mars Bars and seeing John Noakes learn to ring on Blue Peter (depending on your age, of course!). It is, in fact, an art that is easy enough to pick up, but sufficiently challenging and stimulating to provide a lifetime of learning and enjoyment.
Learning to ring is both a mental and physical challenge. It is also a great social activity; a group of ringers is called a band, and they work together to produce beautiful sounds in changing patterns.
Bells have been rung for major festivals, celebrations, weddings, and funerals for centuries, and hopefully will continue to do so. Bellringers are wonderful team players, helping out at other towers when asked, particularly for commemorating special events. One such event recently was the death of our much-loved Queen, Elizabeth II. There are 6,000 towers in the UK and several thousands of those rang to mark the Queen’s death, and subsequent funeral, something picked up in local and national press.
More recently, the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers are aiming to recruit the next generation of ringers in time for the coronation of Charles III in May, and you may well have seen something about this on the television or read it in your daily newspaper. This is a national scheme for everyone to take part in, whether young or old; male or female; religious or not. If you would like to learn an ancient skill, improve your mental and physical health, whilst making new friends and helping to make history, then your Dorset contact is Nigel Pridmore, Secretary of Dorset County Association of Church Bell Ringers at dcacbr@gmail.com.
Let’s get all the bells of Dorset ringing for our new King!