Guild of Change Ringers

Click here (opens in a new tab) to see our termcard for Lent 2023!

Fancy learning an art which:

• has been going for centuries but is still evolving and growing in exciting new ways?

• makes you an instant group of friends here in Cambridge or anywhere across the country?

• makes a lot of noise?

• is appreciated by musicians and mathematicians alike (but doesn't require you to be either)?

Try bell ringing! If you're interested please get in touch by emailing master@cugcr.org.uk or filling in this form (opens in a new tab). Read on for more infomation or watch our introductory video...

English Change Ringing has been practised in churches across the country for centuries - the CU Guild was founded in 1879. Many people see it as a typically 'English' phenomenon, however it has a growing world-wide following, particularly in Australia and America. Although we do still practise in church buildings (because that is where most bells are hung), there is certainly no need to be a Christian or a churchgoer. Bells are probably one of the most publicly audible musical instruments you'll ever have a chance to play, and we do still ring them on a Sunday before the church's service, but our practice nights and various other ringing and social events throughout the year are a chance to get together and make a merry noise, all in the anonymity of the bell tower! But don't worry if you aren't musical! You'll soon see that ringing is more about settling into a rhythm (think riding a bike) than other aspects of musicality - let the bells take care of that. You don't necessarily need physical strength either, a good technique is far more useful. As well as ringing bells in churches we also ring handbells, very much a team activity, which is satisfying to learn and relies on pattern spotting and coordination with the other ringers.