As twilight falls over Machattie Park in Bathurst, located in Central West New South Wales, the melodic sounds of bells resonate from the nearby All Saints Cathedral. Within the bell tower, a group of six individuals skillfully operate numbered ropes equipped with plush grips, continuing a bellringing tradition that has its roots in England dating back to the 1600s.
“It may seem like a hidden society, yet it fosters a wonderful sense of community,” remarked Oriana Zanon, the master ringer of Bathurst.
The ultimate achievement in bellringing is known as a peal, which involves an uninterrupted ringing of the bells over several hours. This demanding task requires both mental focus and physical endurance, with many attempts ending in failure. “If your concentration slips for just five seconds, everything can fall apart,” Ms. Zanon explained.
This year, Ms. Zanon will join fellow ringers from both central western New South Wales and Sydney to attempt a peal in the Bathurst church tower in tribute to Chris Bacon, a 98-year-old bellringer believed to be the oldest active bellringer in the world.
The bellringing style practiced in Bathurst is referred to as “change ringing,” which involves brass bells mounted on wooden wheels. The musical arrangements, called “methods,” appear more like coded sequences than traditional musical notation and are designed for groups of six to twelve ringers. This discipline is highly structured and deeply rooted in tradition, with teams known as “bands.” Members are assigned specific roles, including ring masters who oversee the group, steeple keepers responsible for the bells’ upkeep, and tower captains who provide leadership and mentorship.
Chris Bacon, who started bellringing in his 70s, was attracted to the strong sense of camaraderie among fellow ringers. During the construction of the Bathurst belltower in 2009, seasoned ringers from Sydney traveled to the area to train Mr. Bacon and his team. “They would return to Sydney on Sunday nights to resume their regular jobs,” he recalled. “It’s rare to find a hobby where people are willing to support each other to that extent.”
Ms. Zanon noted that Mr. Bacon’s continued participation in ringing at such an advanced age is quite unusual. “Learning to ring is challenging; it can take up to 12 weeks to master the coordination needed for even two strokes,” she said. “Typically, if someone is ringing at 98, they have been doing it since they were a child.”
Further along the highway, the town of Orange boasts one of the world’s top bellringers, Jim Woolford, who serves as the tower captain for the Orange Pealers. He has also held the title of master ringer at various churches in the UK as well as Sydney’s St Mary’s and St Andrew’s cathedrals. Having participated in thousands of peals for various occasions, he approaches bellringing with the same care as a marathon runner, paying close attention to his hydration and blood sugar. “Bellringing demands significant mental and physical stamina,” Mr. Woolford stated. “At the beginner levels, it can be quite intense, requiring intense focus, but as you progress, it transforms into a meditative experience, truly enjoyable at higher levels.”
Mr. Woolford employs a television screen in the belltower as a training simulator for other ringers in Orange. “We have practices on both Mondays and Tuesdays, along with one-on-one training sessions using the simulator,” he elaborated. “This rigorous training regimen helps maintain our high standards.” He is also dedicated to preparing younger ringers to eventually pass on this art form themselves. “Many towers around the world have fallen silent because there are no longer any teachers or experts to guide new ringers,” he noted.
Some bellringers uphold personal family traditions. Bathurst’s steeple keeper, Richard Hurford, is a fourth-generation ringer; his great-grandfather, George Hurford, was the city’s first. “The only generation that did not ring was my father due to World War II,” Mr. Hurford explained. “My son has also begun ringing, connecting me to a very ancient tradition.”
According to Jim Woolford, the culture surrounding bellringing is what sets it apart. “You forge lifelong friendships, no matter where you go in the world,” he said. Ms. Zanon added that the craft remains somewhat of a mystery to outsiders. “Only those who are bellringers truly understand what it is,” she remarked. “It’s somewhat akin to a secret society.”
