There appears to be little organised data available on the 'state of ringing' from which trends
may be derived.
Recommendation 1: That the Administrative Committee construct the framework under
which an historical record of the 'state of ringing' may be developed.
Ringing Training
It would appear that Ringing Centres offer the best opportunity for developing ringing training
in line with modern training expectations and potentially an effective mechanism for the
dissemination of good training practice.
Recommendation 2: The Central Council should continue, and if possible extend, its efforts
to encourage and support societies in the development and use of ringing centres.
Recruitment into ringing and training of ringers appears to be very healthy, but there appears
to be a significant decline in the number of young people entering ringing. It is considered
that this will have a detrimental effect in the long term. The Children's Act would seem to
have had a negative impact on the training of young people.
Recommendation 3: That the Public Relations Committee should form a proactive,
specialist group to promote good practice in application of the Act in towers and guilds, and
to facilitate a consistent approach by diocese in relation to ringing.
Recommendation 4: That the Education and Ringing Centres Committees help Societies
to develop fast-track training courses for young people and that the Public Relations committee
develop appropriate mechanisms which societies may use to recruit young people onto such courses.
Recommendation 5: That the Public Relations committee develop promotional material
and events (that may be locally delivered) specifically targeting young people.
Recommendation 6: That the Editor of the Ringing World be requested to introduce a
regular feature for young ringers.
Recommendation 7: That the Education and Public Relations committees investigate
the ways in which the Council and/or local societies may better support university guilds.
The Clergy are generally supportive of ringing, though it is not a high priority relative to
other activities and aspects of Church life. The maintenance of good relations is imperative
and requires constant vigilance. Many Clergy are inadequately informed on matters relating
to bells, bell ringing, and ringers.
Recommendation 8: That the Public Relations and Publications committees should
produce a concise information booklet about bells and ringing which can be distributed free
of charge through the ministry training centres.
Recommendation 9: That the Public Relations committee work with appropriate
societies to establish applicable training activities at ministry training centres.
Recommendation 10: That the Public Relations committee develop an initiative to
promote awareness among ringers of the need to, and means of, fostering and maintaining good
ringer-clergy relations.
Whilst data on number of unringable towers etc., is available more specific data on standards
of maintenance and the state of repair of installations does not appear to be available.
Such data may be helpful in targeting funds and assessing funding requirements.
Recommendation 11: That the Towers and Belfries committee consider the merits of
a detailed survey of the state of repair of bells installations nationally and take appropriate
action based on those considerations.
The image of bell ringing is disadvantageous from the point of view of recruiting young people
and possibly the wider public (i.e. outside the congregations and immediate Church contacts).
Recommendation 12: that the Public Relations committee carry out a feasibility
study into the marketing of ringing and management of its image in the public mind, and consider
further action based on that feasibility study.
