How many times have you walked past a church on a sunny Saturday and enjoyed the beautiful sound of the bells pealing in celebration of a wedding, writes Jennie Pease of Dorset County Association of Church Bell Ringers.

Perhaps you have heard the bells calling the faithful to church, whether you attend or not.
Church bell ringing is an ancient and fascinating art that has been practiced and developed for more than 300 years.

It is, in fact, an art that is easy enough to pick up, but sufficiently challenging and stimulating to provide a lifetime of learning and enjoyment.

Learning to ring is both a mental and physical challenge. It is also a great social activity – a group of ringers is called a band – who all work together to produce beautiful sounds in changing patterns.

A basic ability to handle a bell will give anyone a warm welcome to ring at towers from Abbotsbury to Wool, Aberdeen to Penzance. Going abroad? You will find ringing towers in several old British Colonies too.

There are 6,000 towers in the UK. This is a national scheme for everyone to take part in, whether young or old; male or female; religious or not. If you would like to learn an ancient skill, improve your mental and physical health, whilst making new friends and helping to make history, then your Dorset contact is Nigel Pridmore, secretary of Dorset County Association of Church Bell Ringers at dcacbr@gmail.com.