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There are nearly 6000 churches in England and Wales possessing peals of bells designed for "Change-ringing". This is an art peculiar to the British Isles.

Each bell, swinging at speed through a complete circle, is controlled by its ringer and guided among the other bells in rhythmic sequence to produce the sound familiar to English towns and villages.

The Sacred Heart Church is one of only 28 Catholic Churches in this country currently possessing a full ringing peal, and is the only such Church on the South Coast.

The light peal of six bells installed in 1983 is rung every week, for various occasions and the ringing team welcomes individuals and parties from all over the country.

We Need

A regular supply of recruits to increase our numbers and to balance losses through members moving away to college, university or other parts of the country.

Who Can Join?

Almost anyone can, in time, learn the art of bellringing, and we are willing to teach anyone who is interested, however old or young.

What would be my commitment?

1. A number of preliminary lessons to learn how to control the swinging bell.

2. Regular attendance at weekly practice sessions.

3. Supporting, whenever possible, the regular ringing for Church services, calling God's people to worship and celebrating the life of the community.

What skills do I need?

First and foremost a strong sense of Humour, with a certain amount of patience and a degree of Enthusiasm.

Ringing is teamwork and requires no academic or physical prowess.

It is also good exercise!



What can I gain by being a Ringer?

The degree of involvement of individual ringers in bellringing varies greatly, according to their other commitments.

But there are privileges -

An active sharing in the life and worship of a beautiful and historic church.

A fascinating skill which is neither art nor science, but where further progress is always possible.

A welcome to ring in any of the 6000 churches up and down the country.

Meeting a whole new circle of friends, with opportunity to join the local Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Bellringers and to be a member of the National Catholic Bellringers Guild of St. Agatha.

Are You Interested?

Why not come along and see for yourself?

There is no obligation to stay!

Visit the belfry when ringing is scheduled or:

Meet the Tower Captain, Patrick Mathews (pictured above) at the Sunday Coffee morning after the 10.30am Mass in the Parish Centre, or:

Telephone the Tower Captain - 01202 721287 between 6.00pm and 7.00pm to arrange for a visit to the belfry.

Scheduled Ringing Times:

Saturdays: 5.30 - 6.00pm     Sundays: 9.45 - 10.25am     Holydays: 5.30 - 6.00pm

Practice:

Mondays: 5.45 - 7.15pm