Bedfordshire Association of Church Bell Ringers

Welcome to the website of the

Bedfordshire Association of Church Bell Ringers

Promoting and supporting bell ringing in Bedfordshire

Our Association covers the geographical county of Bedfordshire and the parish of Eaton Socon in Cambridgeshire. There are 83 churches with ringable bells in Bedfordshire and we have about 300 members.

Our patron is currently The Bishop of Bedford, the Right Reverend Richard Atkinson. (We’ll invite the Bishop of St Albans elect to become a patron once installed later in the year.)

The Association is a registered Charity, number 263781, see https://apps.BACBR Charity No. 263781 for more details.

… catch up with us on:

Forthcoming Events

Calendar 2026
Date	Location	Details	Times
Saturday 1st August	Sharnbrook (8)	General Ringing and a short business meeting. This is for everyone, all levels will be catered for. There will be a short meeting to elect new members, provide news and updates as necessary. Please let us know you're coming so we know this will be a viable session. Sign up on the MemberMojo Store - https://membermojo.co.uk/bacbr/store or Email Linda - ringing@bacbr.org.uk Subject: General ringing Sharnbrook	10:30 – 12:30pm
Saturday 8th August	Biggleswade (10)	Second Saturday Training at the RJ Sharp Ringing Centre, St Andrews, Biggleswade. These sessions are aimed at less experienced Bedfordshire ringers who would like to improve basic skills and confidence. Session 1 - 10.00-11.00 bell handling. 11.00 - 11.15 coffee and cake. Session 2 - 11.15-12.30 foundation skills - rounds, call changes, Plain Hunt. Sign up essential for students and helpers, please email Chris Williams - christine.williams.bells@gmail.com and state session 1 or 2	10:00 – 12:30pm
Saturday 22nd August	Campton (8)	Walk, Tea and Ring, Meet at All Saints Church Campton at 2.30pm for 3 mile (approx) circular walk, 4.00pm Ringers Tea (£5/person), 5.00 - 6.30pm ringing at All Saints, Campton. Names for tea essential to Linda please - email ringing@bacbr.org.uk	2:30 – 8:30pm
	View full calendar

David William Manton

We’re sorry to report that David W Manton, a former Cranfield ringer, died recently at the age of 101 years. David rung 5 peals for the Bedfordshire Association between 1968 and 1980. His funeral service is on 15th July 2026 at 1.30pm at The Vale Crematorium, Evesham Road, Fladbury, Pershore, WR10 2QR.

Bedfordshire Young Ringers win the 8 Bell Advanced Call Changes category at the RWNYC in Nottingham!

Last Saturday 325 young ringers in 43 teams from all over the country competed in the Ringing World National Youth Competition striking contest across five categories. Our Bedfordshire team were WINNERS of the Advanced 8 Bell Call Changes, the second highest category. This is a fabulous result – congratulations and very well done to all! Huge thanks also to the families who have been so supportive and our wonderful team of leaders and helpers! The full results are here: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/

During the day there was also ringing at other towers, including the lovely 12 at St Mary’s Nottingham, handbells, mini-rings, riding on trams and cake of course!

The Team with their medals being presented with the (hidden) Robert Lewis Trophy

The Team and reserves with the Trophy and certificate.

There are more comments and photos on our Facebook Page The Bedfordshire Association of Church Bell Ringers | Facebook and the young ringers web page blog.

All young ringers in Bedfordshire are really welcome to join our practices, usually held on the second Sunday of each month at Campton, 2.30-4.30pm. All abilities are welcome, from learning to handle a bell (as some of this team were doing only a couple of years ago) to national champions! Please email Linda and Dean on youngringers@bacbr.org.uk for details. Who knows … within a couple of years you could be a national champion too!

The July Update is now available

The July Update has been emailed out those members who asked to receive this in their Member Mojo preferences and it’s also available here

Read about our ‘recent happenings’, details of May and June firsts and commemorative ringing and a piece by Pat Albon about ringing management; sign up for your July and August ringing events, including ringing and more at Blunham’s Bells, Beer and Bangers fund raising afternoon and check out the useful Central Council resources.