Bellringing in the Knightley Parishes

All church towers in the Knightley Parishes contain a very large percussion instrument - a ring of bells!

If you want to ring, learn to ring or have the bells rung for a special occasion, please contact the person named below using the Staff and Leadership page.

BADBY
Bells: 6 bells tenor bell weighs 716 kg
Practice Night: Every Wednesday 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Sunday Ringing: Usually 45 mins before services
Contact: Geoff Pullin

CHARWELTON
Bells: 5 bells tenor bell weighs 541 kg
Practice Night: By arrangement
Sunday Ringing: By arrangement
Contact: Graham White

FAWSLEY
Bells: 4 bells tenor bell weighs 573 kg
Sunday Ringing: By arrangement
Contact: Vivienne Baker

NEWNHAM
Bells: 6 bells. tenor bell weighs 661 kg
Practice Night: Every Thursday 8:00pm to 9:00pm
Sunday Ringing: By arrangement
Contact: James Millsop

PRESTON CAPES
Bells: 5 bells tenor bell weighs 900 kg
Practice Night: Some Wednesdays 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Sunday Ringing: By arrangement
Contact: Graham White or Sheila Bull

Across the country, the great majority of bells hung for ringing in the full-circle English way hang in Church of England church or cathedral towers. The use of the bells is within the sole prerogative of the incumbent of the parish or the dean of the cathedral. A few rings hang in Roman Catholic churches and a few in public or private buildings (eg Manchester Town Hall, Quex Park in East Kent). There are now an increasing number of mini-rings owned by individuals to allow them to practise change ringing whenever they want.

Each tower aims to have its own band of ringers. The tower captain is appointed by and is responsible to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) for running the tower and ringing.

Change Ringing has been described as a team sport, a highly coordinated musical performance, an antique art, and a demanding exercise that involves a group of people ringing rhythmically a set of tuned bells through a series of changing sequences that are determined by mathematical principles and executed according to learned patterns. It is, indeed, a fascinating, social, physical and mental activity suitable for people between 10 and 90 years old! See this animated video!

To provide an organisation and opportunity for ringers to get together to practise and improve their change ringing, associations or guilds started to develop in the 17th century and by the late 19th century they covered most diocese or counties. More recently they have flourished within universities as well.

This area is covered by the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers, which has ten branches through which the Guild meets its objectives. These are:

Ringing For Divine Service
Recruiting And Training of Ringers
Encouraging The Art of Change Ringing
Helping Ringers To Improve Their Standard Of Ringing
Care And Restoration Of Bells And Their Fittings

Charwelton is within the Culworth Branch and the other towers within the Daventry Branch.

There are about 40,000 bell-ringers in the English tradition and they form a world-wide fraternity in which you are welcome to ring in most places, simply by turning up on practice night or to ring for a service. The greeting is usually: “Do you ring?”, “What would you like to ring?”

All the associations and guilds get together within the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. It has many working groups that assist in all matters of bell ringing and bell maintenance.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet for our Sunday services in five Church Buildings - well, six including a small chapel (details below). You can find the plan of our services here. Take a look at the online diary to see what service is happening where and when. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you find a parking space (our church buildings predate the car and the need for carparks) and to find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone and handed anything you need to guide you through the service.

Some of our churches serve tea, coffee and biscuits following the service so don't dash off, it is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

Plan your journey:
Visit the Our Churches page and click on the name of the church you want, at the bottom of the page you will find a what3words link which will open a map showing you precisely where the church building is.

Alternatively, Open Google Maps

Accessibility: If you need assistance, please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets in Badby church.

Our Service

The main service begins with a warm welcome from one of our team members. The service might be led by Malcolm (our Rector) or one of the Ministry Team or even a visiting member of clergy. We will sing a hymn or song, hear a short passage read from the Bible and the leader will then explain what that passage is all about - how God speaks to us through his Word and how we can apply it to our lives. We will pray and join in some responses (you don't have to if you don't feel it is appropriate) and there might be a short symbolic meal called Communion. During the service, there may be a baptism which is when we welcome someone into our Church fellowship and family. Of course, you don't have to do any of these things, they might seem strange the first time you encounter them, so take your time and don't feel any pressure.

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What about my kids?

Children and young people are very welcome in our church buildings and services.

Children stay with their parent or grown-up throughout the service and we really value worshipping God all together as a family.

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Come and join us at our Evening Service of The Word or for a coffee morning in Badby church.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays and week day events run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team, why not speak to someone on the welcome team at church or contact us through the Contact Us page.