Ringing Festival Registrations now open
Kia ora, welcome to the Wellington Combined Society of Bellringers' website. If you are a visitor or visiting ringer, and for information about tours, please see 'Visitors Information'. To see where we ring and learn about our bells, see 'About our Bells'. If you are interested in learning to ring Tower Bells, Handbells, or both, please complete the application form or contact us.
We are responsible for ringing the church bells at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul and Old St Paul's in Wellington, New Zealand. We also ring on the John David Mini Ring, which is housed at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, and on Handbells. Click here to see the full cathedral ringing schedule (includes public holidays and special occasions. All ringing at Old St Paul's is by arrangement only.
We ring according to an old English Art known as Change Ringing, which was developed as early as the 16th century. The bells are hung on a full wheel and swung by a rope until they are facing upside down. They are then rung from balance point to balance point, enabling small but precise changes in the timing of when the bells strike. However, we do not ring traditional tunes due to the length of time it takes for the bell to swing - instead, we ring methods, whereby bells move in a set pattern and at a maximum of one place at a time, producing different 'permutations'. These methods are completely memorised - you are not allowed to have physical aid during ringing, which is what makes bell ringing such a fun mental exercise! Click here to find out more about change-ringing.
A diagram showing the mechanism for a full-circle bell.
An example of a bell-ringing method.
If you're looking for a fun and unique hobby that's also a great way to stay fit and make new friends, why not try Bellringing? You don't need any experience or religious connection, but a good sense of rhythm, coordination and concentration would be very helpful. Don't let that put you off, though; anyone can become a bellringer - we offer training from the age of 10 onwards. Ringing is a great way to travel too - many ringers go around NZ visiting other towers, as individuals or with a band. Change Ringing is also practised in Australia, the USA, Europe and the UK!
The society is currently recruiting, as we do not have enough ringers to ring all the bells at both of our towers. We have 14 bells at the cathedral, for example, but most of the time only 6 or 8 bells can be rung at once. To join the band: visit us while we're ringing, book a tour, or get in touch with us.
FAQs:
What are the requirements for becoming a bellringer?
You must be at least 10 years old or physically capable of ringing the bells, and this will be assessed during initial lessons. Despite ringing being mostly about technique, some physical strength is still required, and due to this, there may also be limitations for those aged over 65 who may want to join. After a few taster sessions, we will let you know if we are unable to carry on training you.
Aside from this, there is no strict requirement; however, as stated earlier, a good sense of rhythm, coordination, and concentration is beneficial. Ringing involves handling a bell, striking it in the right place, and concentrating on a method (pattern) of ringing all at once, so there is a lot to think about. It does become second nature after a while, though, just like riding a bike or driving a car!
How long does the training take?
It depends on the individual; younger people tend to pick it up more quickly, but this isn't always the case. It can take between a few weeks and a few months of one-to-one lessons to become fully confident at handling a bell, before you even begin to ring with the others. People have been known to pick it up within days, though! In the end, it depends on how keen you are and how much time you can spend on the end of the rope.
How much does the training cost?
Tuition is currently free.
Do I need to be strong?
No - whilst some aspects of ringing do require a bit of physical strength, Bellringing is mostly about technique. As you improve with training, you become better at swinging the bell from balance point to balance point, meaning the strength required to ring them is reduced. Many bells weigh over three tons and are rung regularly by a single person. However, what you DO need is the ability to stand for medium to long periods.
Is Bellringing dangerous?
Like many physical hobbies and sports, it does have its risks, but 99% of the time, bell ringing is a very safe activity. One myth is that ringers fly up to the ceiling - this definitely does not happen in real life, due to the potential for ropes to get caught underfoot, we keep our shoes flat on the floor. There are many rules and regulations in place to protect ringers' safety in the ringing room and the belfry.
Do you need to be religious or attend church to ring bells?
Not at all - while some ringers do attend church, bell ringers come from all walks of life, and being religious or not does not matter as long as the bells get rung!
This diary shows ringing times and events within the WCSB. You can click on an event for more details or scroll down to see more events. The diary is usually kept up to date, but if you are visiting, we recommend you check with one of our contacts beforehand.
If the tower will be closed to the public during a particular ringing session, this will be indicated with '(C)' after the event name. This means that you will not be able to ascend the tower - there will be times when the ringers need to concentrate, such as for quarter peals, peal attempts, or other special ringing like weddings and funerals.
The Wellington Combined Society of Bellringers has been a registered charity in Wellington-Wairarapa since 2016. You can view our information on the New Zealand Charities Register here.
