Change Ringing

 

Change ringing is a traditional English style of ringing bells which dates from the 17th century.  When properly rung, a change-ringing bell starts mouth up, swings full circle, then reverses direction and swings full circle again to end mouth up.  Since swinging bells have great momentum, they cannot wait to be rung until a particular note is needed.  This means change-ringing bells do not ring tunes and require the full attention of one ringer apiece.  Instead, the bells each ring once in a particular order, then each ring once again in a different order.  Each order of ringing is called a change (hence, change ringing).  The ringers use combinations of rules called methods to ring many different changes in a row.  A peal in a method consists of ringing 5,000 or more unique changes, taking approximately three and a half hours without a break, a change in personnel, or any visual aids.  Ringers consider successfully ringing a peal to be a major achievement and will ring a peal to mark a special occasion.  Want more information? [EXTERNAL]