The Craft of Bellringing is a 2006 documentary that explores the history and tradition of English-style bellringing.
From the origins of bells to modern-day ringing, from small parish churches to some of the world’s most famous cathedrals, the film offers a rare glimpse into the world of church bell ringing.
Highlighting the first edition of Tintinnalogia — the earliest book ever written about bellringing — and featuring exclusive interviews with leading experts, the documentary takes viewers on an intellectual and cultural journey through the rich heritage of this ancient craft.
The Craft of Bellringing (2006, 48min)
Chapters
[2:10] HISTORY | In an interview with Dr. John Eisel, steward of the Central Council Library, we explore the first edition of the Tintinnalogia, the first book to be published about bellringing in 1668.
[7:15] PARTS OF THE BELL | Frank Lewis from the Kent County Association explains how English-style bells are hung. In addition, the dangers of ringing are also shown, as we later find out what actually happens when the stay suddenly breaks.
[14:35] METHODS | Michael Moreton, tower captain at South Croydon gives a comprehensive introduction to the basis of methods.
[24:10] PRACTICE | We pay a visit to the ringers at Addington at their practice night led by the tower captain, Eric Godfrey. We accompany them on an outing to the glass tower in Basildon.
[29:50] CATHEDRALS | Dr. Ian Campbell, ringing master at Exeter Cathedral gives an insight into cathedral ringing at an open day. As part of this journey, we also visit Liverpool Cathedral, where the world’s heaviest set of bells can be found.
[39:00] SOCIETIES | Ringing societies represent the elite in bellringing, where ringing methods are taken to perfection.
Towers featured
Behind the scenes of The Craft of Bellringing documentary
My passion for bellringing began at an early age. Later, as I became a filmmaker, I grew determined to create an authoritative documentary about the ancient art of English-style bellringing.
The journey started at my home tower of St. Mary’s Addington in Surrey, where I learnt to ring and discovered the unique culture of the ringing community. With the guidance of our tower captain, Eric Godfrey— a respected figure who knew almost everyone in the bellringing fraternity — I was introduced to experienced ringers and experts with specialist knowledge covering the many different aspects of church bellringing. These connections helped shape the foundation of my documentary and provided authentic insights into the history, tradition, and practice of bellringing.
The history of ringing
For the history of ringing, Chris Ridley showed me the library of St. Paul’s and recommended I contact Dr. John Eisel, steward of the Central Council Library. I was especially looking forward to meeting John, as much of the material I studied while preparing the documentary came from the books and articles he had written about English-style bellringing.
Two weeks later, I visited him in Hereford and filmed an in-depth interview, which now forms a significant part of the historical content in the film. During this visit, I also had the rare opportunity to film historic texts, including the first edition of Tintinnalogia from 1668. With this material, I was able to write the narration for the historical sections of the documentary before traveling across England to collect additional footage.
Parts of the bell
To illustrate the parts of a bell, I filmed at West Wickham, another local church where I regularly ring. The local ringers were incredibly helpful, allowing me to spend several days capturing footage. The most challenging part was hauling lighting equipment up a vertical ladder through two floors to the bell chamber, which we managed using ropes.
Because most bell and ringing chambers are small, I primarily used a wide-angle lens. To demonstrate how bells are rung, I hired an extra camera to simultaneously film the ringing and bell chambers, allowing for a split-screen presentation that now features in the film.
Breaking the stay
For the documentary’s most dramatic sequence — the breaking of the stay — I also used a two-camera setup. Preparing for this scene was technically complex. With help from my father, we created three custom-designed stays that would break easily, drilling holes filled with sawdust to produce a particle effect when broken. After multiple takes, we captured the perfect shot that appears in the film, highlighting the dangers and precision involved in change ringing.
Methods
Next, I focused on the more intellectual side of bellringing: methods.
Michael Moreton shared his unique teaching approach and demonstrated method ringing, including Plain Changes which are rarely familiar to most ringers.
Ringing societies
Michael also rings at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Through him I was able to get in touch with Alan Ainsworth, who allowed me to film the Cathedral’s practice night of the College Youths, including interior shots with permission from the Cathedral authorities. The film explores relationships between the two major bellringing societies, with insights from John Hughes D’Aeth on the College Youths and Simon Holden on the Cumberlands.
The social side
The documentary also captures the social side of bellringing. Eric Godfrey organised an outing to Basildon, providing an ideal opportunity to film the famous glass tower in a social context. I also conducted interviews with Eric and the vicar at St. Mary’s, Addington, showing the connection between ringers and their local church communities.
Ringing in cathedrals
Attention then turned to cathedral bellringing. At Exeter Cathedral, Dr. Ian Campbell assisted in filming an open practice, where ringers from all around the country were welcome.
The final challenge was capturing the heaviest set of bells in the world hung for change ringing at Liverpool Cathedral. Len Mitchell, the ringing master, provided invaluable support, including floodlighting the massive bell chamber. This sequence emphasises the scale and majesty of cathedral bellringing, highlighting unique features such as ‘The Ring,’ the tenor with two ropes, and the radial bell frame.
Finishing the project
Finally, we interviewed Derek Sibson about the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and its work. Filming took five months in total. The musical score was composed by Balázs Alpár, a friend studying at the Academy of Music in Vienna, and we celebrated the completion of the documentary with a quarter peal of Annable’s London at Addington on 29th October 2006.
This documentary aims to encompass the breadth of bellringing, providing an authentic view from the perspective of a ringer. While it is impossible to capture every aspect of this complex craft in one hour, the film offers a comprehensive look at the history, methods, social connections, and majestic sounds of English-style church bellringing.