LITTLE ROCK — The sound of clanging bells will fill the air Oct. 1-3 as Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock hosts the annual General Meeting of the North American Guild of Change Ringers.
The church has one of only a few change ringing towers in North America, and the convention will draw visitors from across the country, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. More than 60 ringers are expected to attend.
“It’s a very big event ... and we’re really excited about hosting the festival this year and hope everyone enjoys it,” said Scott Stricker, ringing master for the Trinity Cathedral Ringing Society.
Change ringing is popular in the United Kingdom, where the bells are heard at Westminster Abbey in London, as well as at many other churches. The bells are less common in America but some groups, including the Trinity Cathedral Ringing Society and others across the country, are preserving the ancient practice.
Change ringing involves large brass bells weighing hundreds of pounds, which are rung by pulling a rope to set the bell in motion. During each ring the bell swings 360 degrees. Ringers don’t play tunes like those done with hand bells or carillons. Instead the bells ring in descending note order to create a pattern.
Last year’s gathering was at Trinity Wall Street in New York City and several members of the Little Rock group attended. Guild members are widely scattered so the gatherings offer a time to catch up and visit with old friends. And, of course, there will be time for plenty of bell ringing.
“As we do with most festivals, we ring a lot,” Stricker said.
The group regularly rings the church bells before and sometimes after the 9 a.m. Sunday service. They alsoring for special events, weddings and funerals. When the louvers of the tower are opened, the bells can be heard blocks away across the downtown neighborhood. Stricker said they’ve alerted their neighbors about the three-day event.
“It’s pretty loud ... but we’ve got good neighbors and they understand what’s going on,” Stricker said.
During the meeting at Trinity, visitors are welcome to drive by or stop and listen. Optimal times for listening will be Oct. 2 and 3. Information is available online at trinitycathedralringing society.com or nagcr.org. Both sites offer listeners the opportunity to hear a sample of change ringing.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is at 310 W. 17th St.
Religion, Pages 32 on 09/23/2010