The Bell Ringers
The Willingale Bell Ringers account of one of the largest groups of ringers who are members of the Essex Association of Change Ringers. This can possibly be explained by the strong community spirit in the village and fact that the 2012 restoration of the bells was carried out largely by villagers thereby generating a great deal of interest in the bells.
We are a friendly and sociable group but we can take our ringing seriously, generally our ringers have all learnt to ring in recent years so we are proud of the collection of competition certificates that we have won. Our practice evenings are on Wednesday and Friday but do call to check, we might be ringing elsewhere. Although we are the Willingale Ringers, in addition to ringing for all services at St. Christopher’s, we ring for services at Moreton and Bobbingworth, those churches do not have bands, we support the Fyfield ringers, and we practice at other churches to keep their bells ringing.
We are delighted that our tower is an ART Centre where teaching of bell ringing is conducted professionally and systematically whilst being friendly and enjoyable. For more information please visit our ART Centre web page using the link to the right.
We welcome new ringers and can offer teaching, the step by step method and the pace of learning to suit the individual means that ringing should be within the capability of almost everybody – “if you can learn to ride a bike you can lean to ring a bell”. Our tutors are DBS checked and trained to teach. Although all ringers are welcome to both evenings Wednesday tends to be more experienced and Fridays more for technique and bell control. Wednesday we ring normally – the bells make the sound – but on Friday with bells silenced and using a computer simulator.
We socialise after ringing by retiring to the Cricket Club bar or the WSSC bar on Fridays, we have social events throughout the year such as our summer BBQ, our Christmas Party and ringing tours.
Please use the various links to find out more about ringing and our bells.
Visit our Facebook page to stay up to date
The Video restoration of St. Christopher’s bells, part 1
The Video restoration of St. Christopher’s bells, part 2
Links
Essex Association of Change ringers – Essex Association of Change Ringers
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers – C C C B R
Discover Bell Ringing – a young ringer’s introduction to ringing – Discover Bell Ringing
The Video restoration of St. Christopher’s bells, part 1
The Video restoration of St. Christopher’s bells, part 2
The Association of Ringing Teachers