So you’re a ringer at a local tower, and probably a member of the DDA (Derby Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers).
You might have heard of the CCCBR (Central Council of Church Bell Ringers), ART (Association of Ringing Teachers) and The Ringing World.
Where do you fit in? What do these these and other organisations do? How do they help ringers? Read on to find out …
Ringer
You are a Ringer, and ring whenever you can wherever required.
And do ringing-related activities, such as ringing homework and social activities.
Tower
Most ringers have a ‘Home’ Tower where they normally ring.
A Tower is run by one or more people, mostly the Tower Captain or Ringing Master and maybe a Secretary. Other roles might be Steeple Keeper, Treasurer, etc.
They organise ringing at practices and for services, weddings and other occasions.
They might organise outings, social events and quarter peals.
They are responsible for safety and safeguarding at their ringing events, and maintain the bells in the tower.
DDA towers can enter bands into the District 6-Bell Contests.
Not all ringers are members of a tower. Some might be Unattached Members of a district of the DDA.
Group/Cluster (optional)
Your tower might be part of a Group or Cluster. These are a small number of nearby towers who work together to share ringers for services and perhaps striking contests, and might alternate practices.
District
Your Tower (and group/cluster) will be in District of the DDA.
There are 4 Districts (Central, Chesterfield, Peak and Southern).
Each DDA District has a Committee which organises events for the District’s ringers, such as:
- Ringing meetings – several per year (which might include a business meeting or meal).
- The Annual District Meeting (ADM – when District Committee members are appointed).
- Training events.
- Outings/tours.
- District 6-Bell Contests.
- District 8-bell contest teams.
- Roughly one General DDA (for the whole association) event per year (Annual General Meeting (AGM), 6-Bell Striking Contests Final, October Meeting and 8-Bell Contest, and maybe a DDA Dinner)
DDA
The DDA is a territorial society covering the Diocese of Derby, which is roughly the same as the county of Derbyshire.
The DDA does all of these things and more:
- Organises Events for Ringers
- Supports Towers
- Provides Training, Guidance and Advice
- Communicates Information to Ringers
- Maintains Ringing Records
- Recognises Ringers’ Achievements
- Promotes Ringing to the Public
- Bellringing Derbyshire social media for promoting ringing:
Instagram
Facebook
Nextdoor
- DDA Social Media for Ringers:
Join the Derbyshire Bellringers Facebook (private group)
Young Ringers, their parents, carers and ringing tutors may join Derbyshire Young Ringers Facebook (private group)
As well as being a DDA member, a ringer may be a member of more than one territorial society if it covers their tower/home (e.g. EDWNA (East Derbyshire & West Nottinghamshire Association)).
They may be Non-Resident Life Members (NRLM) of one more more territorial societies elsewhere as a result of moving home or ringing peals for other societies.
A ringer might also be a member of a University/College Society, and one or more Non-Territorial Societies, which are often interest-based.
The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR)
The Council is the representative body for all who ring bells in the English tradition with rope and wheel.Its mission is to be the strategic leader and public voice of the ringing community, the arbiter of standards; and to promote an environment where ringing can flourish.
The DDA is affiliated to the CCCBR, so all DDA members are represented on the CCCBR through Central Council Representatives (CCReps -The DDA has 4).
The CCCBR website, which contains a great deal of useful information and downloadable resources for ringers and towers.
It also has a shop, selling a wide range of ringing books and more, including the popular Bell Club scheme and Sherborne Teaching Aids books.
Dove, a guide to towers throughout the world with bells used for change ringing and other bells of interest, is run and maintained by the CCCBR.
Association of Ringing Teachers (ART)
Training and support for bellringing teachers and ringers.
A comprehensive source of training and learning material.
The Ringing World
The Ringing World is the ringers’ weekly global publication, and is available online or as a printed magazine, and is affectionately known as The Comic.
The publication publishes all manner of ringing-related articles, from reports of fun events and bell projects, to advice and tips, to Peal and Quarter Peals, obituaries and adverts and events.
It’s full-colour with great photos and is a very informative read.
The Ringing World hosts Bellboard, a fantastic on-line resource of ringing performances (Peals, Quarter Peals, short performances and more).
The website also has a Diary of ringing events taking place worldwide.
The Ringing World organises the annual Ringing World National Youth Contest.
English-Style Full-Circle Ringing (and Change Ringing on Handbells)
Full-Circle Ringing
Some other countries in continental Western Europe ring full-circle, but the technique differs from English-Style.
An example is Veronese-style ringing, which is so close to English-style that the society is represented on the CCCBR. Others differ greatly.
All Bellringing Styles
There is a vast number of different ringing styles, including swing-chiming and other forms of chiming.