FAQs

Well, you never stop learning. At the Cheshire School of Bell Ringing we have drawn on the very best teaching techniques and learning structures. Pandemics allowing, we aim to get people ringing fairly advanced stuff in about 2 years.

Not in Cheshire. In 2020, one of Altrincham’s churches won the award for the best Bell Ringing Youth Group in the UK. They trained a big group of youngsters, many of whom are now ringing with students at university.

Bell ringers range in age from 9 to 90. The earliest we tend to teach people from is 11.

Not at all. We’re keen to teach people of any age.

No. Bell ringing is all about controlling and managing the energy of a bell. It’s all about technique. If your technique is good then the rest is easy.

No. While it’s great if you do, many bell ringers don’t go to church. However, we do see ringing on a Sunday as providing a service to the community – both for those who attend church and more widely – and we tend to take that very seriously.

Not at all. A great many bell ringers are agnostic but they see ringing on a Sunday as giving something to the wider community.

It is definitely a commitment. If you joined an orchestra you would be expected to go to most rehearsals, to practice at home and to attend the final performance. Bell Ringing is no different.

At home, you sometimes need to do a bit of homework or to practice on SmartPhone Apps.

We ask learners to come to at least two thirds of the Bell School’s workshops.

Once you’re good enough, you’ll be looking to join a Tower, to attend their practice nights and Sunday Service ringing.

So yes, it is a big commitment, but it is also incredibly rewarding and the more you put in, the more you get back. It is a lifelong gift to yourself.