Ring of bells

They are most commonly associated with churches as a means of calling the congregation to worship, but there are a few rings in secular buildings.

When stationary in the down position, the centre of mass of the bell and clapper is appreciably below the centreline of the trunnion supports, giving a pendulous effect to the assembly, and this dynamic is controlled by the ringer's rope.

The headstock is fitted with a wooden stay, which, in conjunction with a slider, limits maximum rotational movement to a little less than 370 degrees.

This is full circle ringing and quite different from fixed or limited motion bells, which chime.

The clapper is a rigid steel or wrought iron bar with a large ball to strike the bell.

The thickest part of the mouth of bell is called the soundbow and it is against this that the ball strikes.

The bourdon is not part of the change ringing peal, it is hung from a pivoted beam.

The bell speaks roughly when horizontal as it rises[clarification needed], thus projecting the sound outwards.

At Amersham in Buckinghamshire the tenor proclaims "Unto the Church, I do You call, Death to the grave will summon all."

Perhaps because they are tolled at funerals, tenors often bear this sort of serious motto; those of trebles are often more light-hearted.

As of January 2021[update], that guide listed 5756 ringable rings of bells in England, 182 in Wales, 37 in Ireland, 22 in Scotland, 10 in the Channel Islands, 2 in the Isle of Man and a further 142 towers worldwide with bells hung for full circle ringing.

[2] Others are located in Italy, the USA, Canada, France, Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan.

The preference is for a natural fibre, formerly Indian hemp, but now mainly flax, as this is kinder on the ringers' hands.