Wellington Combined Society of Bellringers

What We Do

Our members currently ring at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul and Old St Paul's, as well as on the John David Mini Ring. We are also lucky to have several sets of handbells. We practice an ancient craft known as Change Ringing, which was developed in England around the 16th century. The bells are hung on wheels and swung by rope until they are facing upside down, then rung from balance point to balance point, enabling small but precise changes in timing. However, we do not ring traditional tunes due to the length of time it takes for the bell to swing - instead, we ring methods, where bells move in a set pattern and at a maximum of one place at a time, producing different 'permutations', known as changes, hence the name. 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 learn more about the art of change-ringing.