Bell Ringers

Posted on 26th October, 2018
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Chichester Cathedral is unusual among English cathedrals as the bells are not held in a belfry above the church, but in a separate tower or ‘campanile’. The earliest reference to the bells being rung at Chichester is in 1232, although the current Bell Tower was actually built around the year 1400. It stands 107 feet high and 43 feet square at the base, and the walls are just over 8 feet thick. Its upper levels, accessed by a steep narrow spiral staircase, include the Ringing Room, which also contains the clock mechanism.  

The Cathedral has an active band of bell ringers, or campanologists, who practice on Wednesdays between 7.00pm and 9.00pm and conduct ringing on Sundays between 9.00am and 10.00am, to accompany the Sunday services.  

Become a Bell Ringer!

If you are bored of the quiet life and need to ring the changes - have you considered bell-ringing? It’s good fun and great exercise for the mind and body, as well as being a fantastic way to make new friends.

We’re always on the look-out for budding bell ringers of any age so if you’d like to give it a go, are free on Wednesday evenings and reasonably fit then we’d love to hear from you. We’re sure you’ll have a great chime!

For more details on how to join, or just come along to see if you’d like to get involved, then please contact the Cathedral's Bell Tower Captain Jane Deadman at mail@janedeadman.co.uk

For more information on bell ringing in Sussex, please visit the website of the Sussex County Association of Change Ringers at https://www.scacr.org/