We are open to the public from 2pm to 3pm every weekday when you can walk in, talk to someone about ringing, read our informative display panels, and enjoy one of our half hour experiences where we explain how change ringing works and give you an opportunity (if you want) to have a go at ringing a bell. Experiences can be booked in advance. Click here to check availability and make a booking.
Private or group lessons are offered mainly on weekdays and a wide range of times are available. Email to arrange a ringing lesson at bells@stclementscambridge.co.uk
LEARNING AT ST CLEMENT’S RINGING HUB
The first stage in learning to ring is to master handling and controlling a bell. Typically this can take about 6 hours of one-to-one tuition, but everyone learns at a different speed. Don’t worry about being a slow learner – we are here for as long as it takes. Lessons are mainly on weekdays and a wide range of times are available.
During teaching sessions the bells are not audible outside the church. Ties are put on the clappers to stop the bells ringing. In the ringing chamber a computer simulated sound can be heard at exactly the right moment when the bell should ring. If a number of trainees are practising independently at the same time, the sound of an individual bell can be heard through headphones.
Once you can handle a bell safely without a teacher watching and helping all the time, you will be able to move on to group sessions or ringing with the simulator. With a simulator and headphones there is no limit to the advanced techniques that can be practised. One of the attractions of bell ringing is that there is always more that you can learn.
The Bells of St Clement’s are also available to those who want to come in groups to learn or practice. These might be group visits from another church, with their own experienced ringers to supervise. If you have come to Cambridge to study, your first port of call should be the Cambridge University Guild, which provides tuition for students of all ages at any of Cambridge’s universities or further education colleges. Otherwise please contact us by email.
It is necessary to make a charge for all ringing and tuition to cover the manager’s salary, volunteers’ expenses, the running and maintenance costs of the bells and to make a contribution to the church’s costs. The charges are as low as reasonably possible and we do not want to discourage anyone who genuinely wants to learn how to ring. We also want to ensure that the standard of teaching is high as that can greatly affect the time it takes to become proficient and the enjoyment of learning. Our teachers are expected to have a qualification from the Association of Ringing Teachers. We will also be providing less experienced teachers with the opportunity to gain the qualification, but only under the watchful eye of someone who is already qualified.
