As with most towers, training is an essential part of Bell Ringing at Hurst.
We hold regular practice sessions at St. Nicholas Hurst on Monday evenings between 7:45 and 9pm, and then many of the attendees will adjourn to The Castle Inn across the road for well-earned refreshments and a debrief.
We welcome anyone interested in learning more about ringing and learning to ring, as well as any lapsed ringers or visiting ringers. Please email the Tower Captain in advance.
Rope Handling
Rope handling is a fundamental skill that is required by all ringers. Learning to correctly control the rope and the bell makes ringing safer, and more consistent, and make the bell easier to handle. As a ringer develops their skills and moves from individual ringing to rounds, and then to call-changes and methods, the ability to control the timing and placement of the bell is enabled by good handling.
Our Tower Captain, Graham, demonstrates good handling whilst ringing in the following slow-motion video:
Ringing up and down
When ready for ringing, the bells are facing with the mouth of the bell facing upwards, known as “bells up” position. This is an inherently unstable and unsafe position to leave the bells in when not ringing, so it is always recommended to lower the bells to “bells down” position with the mouth of the bell hanging down when the bells are not being rung for a period of time.
Being able to ring a bell up and down is an essential skill for any bell ringer, and one we encourage all the local ringers to learn and to practice regularly.
In the videos below, our Tower Captain, Graham, demonstrates the proper handling techniques for ring a bell up and down, including the taking and handling of coils.