The Daventry Branch

Across the country the great majority of bells hung for ringing in the full-circle English way hang in Church of England church or cathedral towers. The use of the bells is within the sole prerogative of the incumbent of the parish or the dean of the cathedral. A few rings hang in Roman Catholic churches and a few in public or private buildings (eg Manchester Town Hall, Quex Park in East Kent).  There are now an increasing number of mini-rings owned by individuals to allow them to practise change ringing whenever they want.

 

Each tower has its own band of ringers. Within the Church of England, the tower captain is responsible to the Parochial Church Council for running the tower and ringing. 

 

To provide an organisation and opportunity for ringers to get together to practise and improve their skills, associations or guilds started to develop in the 17th century and by the late 19th century they covered most diocese or counties. More recently they have flourished within universities as well. For practical support, the associations usually have a branch or district structure comprising 20 – 40 towers.

 

This area is covered by the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers and we are members of the Daventry Branch, which is one of ten branches through which the Guild meets its objectives. These are:​

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• Ringing for Divine Service

• Recruiting and training of Ringers

• Encouraging the art of Change Ringing

• Helping Ringers to improve their standard of ringing

• Care and Restoration of Bells and their fittings

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Daventry Branch holds a practice, service and tea in the afternoon of the third Saturday of most months, with a short business meeting in January and quarterly. Anyone interested in bell ringing is welcome to come along to any of these meetings. It also runs outings, training sessions and takes part in diocese-wide events.  

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The Guild was founded out of earlier separate societies on 5 January 1924, so it is 100 years old in 2024.  We are celebrating with special events throughout the diocese during the year.  Details here.

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There are about 30,000 bellringers in the English tradition and they form a world-wide fraternity in which you are welcome to ring in most places, simply by turning up on practice night or to ring for a service.  The greetings are usually: “Are you a ringer?”, “What would you like to ring?” 

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All the associations and guilds get together within the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. It has many working committees who assist in all matters of bell ringing and bell maintenance. The Council owns The Ringing World, a weekly magazine for bell-ringers, which enables ringers world-wide to keep up to date and in touch.

 

Check out more information about bells here   and about learning to ring here.  The Church Conservation Trust has a put a new slant on the exercise!  Here are a few myths exploded.

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CONTACTS (2024)

Chairman:          Jane Rands email

Secretary:           Alison Buck   email

Treasurer:           Helen Camps   email

Ringing Master:           Justin Baker   email

Steward:          George Wrycroft   email

Webmaster & Press Correspondent:           Geoff Pullin   email   

This page last updated:6/12/15 Heritage Days Open tower advert removed 11/9/17. 4/1/19 universities link renewed. Outing photo changed 11/5/19. Transferred to Wix 29/1/2021. Updated: 27/12/2021.  Header amended  31/5/2021. Contacts added 14/2/2022. Revised for post-Covid arrangements 4/1/2023  2023 Officer update 23/1/23. Young ringers photo added 2/4/23. Coronation ringing added 17/5/2023. outing added 20/5/2023. PDG100 added, other stuff removed 5/1/24. Steward changed 11/2/24. Outing photo added 20/5/2024.