Where to go after ringing the first bell2 min read

Reading Time: 2 minutes

When you ring the first bell in a tower, it signals the start of a change ringing sequence. The order of the bells in a change ringing sequence is usually determined by a method. There are many different methods, and each one has its own set of rules for how the bells are rung.

If you’re new to change ringing, it can be a little confusing to know what to do after ringing the first bell. Here is a guide to the most common sequences, as well as some tips for ringing in a change ringing tower.

If you are ringing a method that has an established order, then you will need to follow the sequence specified in the method. For example, the method Plain Bob has the following order:

1. First bell

2. Second bell

3. Third bell

4. Fourth bell

5. Fifth bell

6. Sixth bell

7. Seventh bell

8. Eighth bell

9. Ninth bell

10. Tenth bell

If you are ringing a method that does not have an established order, then the bells will need to be rung in a particular way so that they sound harmonious. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common is called ’rounds and changes’.

In rounds and changes, each bell is rung in turn, and then the next bell is rung. This continues until all of the bells have been rung. Here is an example of how this would work:

1. Ring the first bell

2. Ring the second bell

3. Ring the first bell again

4. Ring the third bell

5. Ring the second bell again

6. Ring the fourth bell

7. Ring the third bell again

8. Ring the fifth bell

9. Ring the fourth bell again

10. Ring the sixth bell

11. Ring the fifth bell again

12. Ring the seventh bell

13. Ring the sixth bell again

14. Ring the eighth bell

15. Ring the seventh bell again

16. Ring the ninth bell

17. Ring the eighth bell again

18. Ring the tenth bell

19. Ring the ninth bell again

20. Ring the eleventh bell

21. Ring the tenth bell again

22. Ring the twelfth bell

23. Ring the eleventh bell again

24. Ring the thirteenth bell

25. Ring the twelfth bell again

26. Ring the fourteenth bell

27. Ring the thirteenth bell again

28. Ring the fifteenth bell

29. Ring the fourteenth bell again

30. Ring the sixteenth bell

31. Ring the fifteenth bell again

32. Ring the seventeenth bell

33. Ring the sixteenth bell again

34. Ring the eighteenth bell

35. Ring the seventeenth bell again

36. Ring the nineteenth bell

37. Ring the eighteenth bell again

38. Ring the twentieth bell

39. Ring the nineteenth bell again

40. Ring the twenty-first bell

41. Ring the twentieth bell again

42. Ring the twenty-second bell

43. Ring the twenty-first bell again

44. Ring the twenty-third bell

45. Ring the twenty-second bell again

46. Ring the twenty-fourth bell

47. Ring the twenty-third bell again

48. Ring the twenty-fifth bell

49. Ring the twenty-fourth bell again

50. Ring the twenty-sixth bell

In this example, the first bell is rung three times, the second bell is rung twice, and the other bells are rung once.