Articles

SCACR Membership

Details: Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

Membership of the Association is open to anyone (both ringers and non-ringers) interested in supporting our aims and objectives – which are primarily to support the art of change ringing in Sussex. We encourage anyone who rings regularly in Sussex to join.

Member benefits

As an SCACR member you can enjoy:

the fellowship and support from belonging to a wider community of bellringers;
participation in ringing and social events organised by the Districts and Association;
the benefit of participating in low cost or free District/Association training sessions and courses;
access to free bell maintenance and restoration advice;
eligibility to apply for Association grants to support bell restoration and other projects in your tower;
eligibility to apply for Young Ringers grants (for members under 25 years old);
eligibility to apply for a grant to cover course fees for training sessions of wider benefit (e.g. steeple-keeping and belfry maintenance, or train-the-trainer)
news and updates, District newsletters, and the annual Association Handbook;
membership of the SCACR Facebook group;
through SCACR affiliation, access to the Central Council expertise, advice and support, and materials (SCACR pays affiliation fees to the Central Council);
contributing to deciding the focus and strategic direction of SCACR, through participation in your District and the Association AGMs.

Note that ‘non-resident members’ are only entitled to ring peals for the Association, not to any of the above benefits.

Membership categories

There are several different types of membership, as specified in the Association’s rules. In summary:

Adult Ringing Member (resident and/or regularly ringing in Sussex): resident and/or regularly ringing within Sussex. Ringing members are usually associated with a particular tower in Sussex. The guideline minimum competency is to be able to lower a bell safely and ring competently in rounds. To become a member, a ringer should be nominated (usually by their tower captain) and seconded using the online membership form. Membership Guidance Notes

Junior ringing member (under 18 on 1st January): as for an adult ringing member, but pays a reduced annual subscription.

Adult non-ringing member (associate): for non-ringers with a connection to the Association or who wish to support the activities. For example, learners who do not yet meet the minimum ringing competency, or people who are no longer able to ring, or non-ringers who wish to support the Association’s activities.

Junior non-ringing member (under 18 on 1st January): as for an adult non-ringing member, but pays a reduced annual subscription.

Adult non-resident member (to ring peals for SCACR): not resident nor a regular ringer within Sussex. Any non-member wishing to attempt a peal for the SCACR must become a non-resident member by paying one year’s subscription. Non-resident members are only entitled to ring peals for the association, not to any other member benefits.

How do I join?

Membership is via annual subscription. To join or renew, use our online membership system; members should also update their personal details (e.g. change in email address) via this system. (Long-service members and Honorary life members are not required to pay an annual subscription fee.)

New members must be proposed and seconded by current, adult ringing members of the Association, via the membership form. Note that new members can join at any time, and are not elected at a meeting.

Join the Association or Renew your membership online (sign-in using your email address; no password required)
Update Your Details
Membership Guidance notes
Paper Membership Application Form (only for those unable to user the online membership)
Privacy Policy

If you have any questions regarding membership, please do not hesitate to contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

I want to learn to ring!

Great! Find out more about learning to ring. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find a ringing teacher near you.

A vision for SCACR - Revised Rules Passed

Details: Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The EGM on 27th September was attended by 30 members at the Scout HQ in Hurstpierpoint. As the date clashed with a number of tower outings and weddings, the General Secretary recorded apologies from over 40 members, many of whom had commented that they were happy with the rules circulated and hoped that they would be passed.

After discussion and some minor amendments, the new set of rules was accepted

Roll of Honour

Details: Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

Great War Centenary

Large numbers of bellringers from the British Isles and its Empire served in the First World War in His Majesty’s Forces on sea, land and in the air, at home and abroad, some never to return.

The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR) Great War 1914-1918 Roll of Honour commemorates all those known ringers who fell. These names were collected from Association Secretaries in the early 1920’s and then inscribed into a commissioned handwritten Memorial Book. The Memorial Book was presented to the Council during the 1924 meeting.

From 1995 onwards missing names began to be added to the Memorial Book and more especially so in recent years making the listing more complete and accurate as possible. In doing this it has filled up the original Book requiring a second handwritten book to be commissioned. These Memorial Books can be viewed in a display case on the way up to the ringing chamber at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Images of the pages of the CC Roll of Honour are available to view online. Photographic copies of the pages of each Book together with a listing of the text are available. Each entry shows the ringer’s name, initials, home tower and society name where known.

Alan Regin

2017 - Alan Regin M.B.E., CCCBR Steward of the Rolls of Honour, at the John Taylor Bell Foundry, Loughborough, Leicestershire with the bells for St George's Memorial Church, Ypres prior to their departure.

Alan Regin M.B.E., is the current Steward of the Rolls of Honour for the CCCBR and he and his team are owed a tremendous vote of thanks for the hard work they have done to ensure that as many names as possible of those bell-ringers who fell serving their county in the Great War are commemorated.

During 2018 more SCACR bell-ringers names who lost their lives in the Great War have come to light and are now listed in the latest (March 2019) SCACR Roll of Honour pdf update. This includes a listing of all the known Sussex ringers (260) and their Home Tower who served in the Great War and returned. Perhaps you may know of someone who has been missed, if you do then please let me know.

You’re all encouraged to participate in this memorial by contributing any names, photographs or biographical details that you may have to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Roll_of_Honour.pdf - updated March 2019.

Alan Seymour
March 2019

Documents

Details: Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

Rules

SCACR Rules (Revised at the AGM in May 2025)

Appendix to Rules Officers Teams Guidance Note July 2014

Minutes

Association meeting minutes are available from the relevant secretary. The AGM minutes are also available in Membermojo.

Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults

Details: Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Association takes safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults very seriously. We have a dedicated Safeguarding Officer, and a regularly updated Safeguarding Policy (policy and other essential documents available to download below).

Towers must follow the Church of England Safeguarding Training Framework which means

All ringers, even if the tower has no young ringers, must complete the online Basic Awareness course and renew this every 3 years.
All tower captains and trainers, even if the tower has no young ringers, must in addition complete the online Foundation course and renew this every 3 years. In this case there is no need to renew the Basic course.

The parent or guardian of each young ringer must complete the Permission to Ring form and provide this to the organiser of the practice (e.g. the tower captain, district secretary or practice coordinator). The CCCBR Good Practice Guide should be displayed in all towers.

Anyone who regularly teaches, trains or supervises children must have a DBS check done by the parish safeguarding officer (usually a member of the PCC). Ringers in general supporting roles or who only undertake one-off teaching/deputising do not need DBS checks. “A DBS check dating from January 2022 should be renewed every 3 years (or 5 years if before January 2022). If you join the Updates scheme within 30 days of a DBS check, there is no need to renew the DBS check and other organisations can access your records (with permission) to avoid multiple checks.

So much of safeguarding is really just good practice: always obtain written parental consent to teach children and ensure that two adults are present (preferably one male and one female) when children are present. Towers are also advised to keep an attendance register, just so you can look back to see who was present at any ringing occasion.

The Central Council of Church Bell ringers have published several helpful documents, including a general Safeguarding Guidance document. We recommend that each tower keeps a copy of this in the ringing chamber.

If anyone has any worries, concerns or questions please contact the safeguarding officer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also speak to your parish safeguarding officer or the safeguarding team at the Diocese of Chichester. The Diocese provides guidance for likely situations: "What do I do if ...".

Safeguarding advice for young ringers online

In general bellringers are lovely people but very rarely things can go wrong. To help you stay safe when ringing online:

When you are going to a practice make sure there is someone you know and trust there.
If someone says something inappropriate use the “Report Behaviour” link on Ringing Room and tell an adult you trust (mum or dad, tower captain or another family member).
You can take screenshots to keep a record of conversations.
If you need more help or don’t know who to talk to, go to cccbr.org.uk/safeguarding.

Permission forms

Permission to Ring Form (PDF) (.docx)
Permission to Ring at Association Events (PDF) (.docx)
Permission for an Additional Activity Form (PDF) (.docx)

Policy and Guidance

SCACR Safeguarding Policy
Tower Safeguarding Flowchart (PDF) (.docx)
CCCBR Safeguarding Guidance (includes Resources for Ringers and Ringing Societies)

Learning to Ring

Details: Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

Interested in learning to ring? Bellringers in Sussex would welcome you as a new recruit! Read on to find out more about learning to ring, or see our "What is Bellringing?" page for more information.

Why Learn to Ring?

For many people ringing is a great hobby that allows them to meet friendly new people. It provides a lifelong learning experience and helps to maintain a traditional skill. As well as providing gentle physical exercise and a good excuse to get up from the telly and out of the house, it's also a great mental workout. Bellringers of all abilities are encouraged to visit other towers and are always welcome to join practice nights throughout the country. As such its an opportunity to visit some interesting places.

"One of the delights of ringing is the endless opportunity to learn new things."

Beware! once you’ve got the bug, you’ll find it hard to give up:

"I learnt to ring over forty years ago and I still get the same buzz that I did when I first started."

Could I Become a Bellringer?

Ringing is well within the capabilities of most people. The initial learning usually takes several weeks, after which you can begin to ring with the rest of the band. Most ringers practise once or twice a week and ring before or after church on Sunday.

There is no fixed upper or lower age limit, although different towers will have their own lower age limit. You don't need to know anything about music to be a good bellringer, you really just need a sense of timing and sense of humour! Read our FAQs for more information.

"Being able to count is all the maths you’ll need and you can become a very good ringer without knowing anything about music."

First Steps

The first step is to find a local tower that can teach you. There is usually little or no cost; enthusiasm and committment to learn are all that is asked of you! You can use our Searchable Tower Database or the Tower Map to help you find a tower near you. Alternatively you can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. telling us where you live (town or village name and your full postcode) to find a tower in your area.

Contact Us

Details: Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

If you would like to find out about learning to ring and the best local tower for you to visit, or just have a question about bellringing in Sussex or in general, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get in touch and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

Or, to contact a tower correspondent directly use the phone number or email address on the relevant Tower page.

Sussex Young Ringers

Details: Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Association arranges events specifically aimed at the under 25s to get together, have some fun, develop their skills and eat cake! Keep an eye on the events calendar for dates and, if you can, the SCACR Facebook group (i.e. the main group) and the Sussex Young Ringers' Facebook group.

Sussex Young Ringers have taken part in the Ringing World National Youth Competition since it started in 2011 and have now won the competition three times! The band featured on Blue Peter, have been written about in The Times and have always done Sussex proud – always representing the county with great skill and great pride!

In 2020, the young ringers were presented with their very own set of handbells, in memory of the late Peter Hurcombe, a former Master of the Association and a very proud grandfather of an eminent young ringer!

Our practices from July to May each year are open to everyone, all abilities and experiences: If you know someone who would like to be part of this exciting venture, get in touch.

The young ringers are supported by the Sussex Young Ringers Fund (The Reg Johnson and Harold Wood Memorial Fund).