Wymondham Abbey’s two towers are a notable landmark in the Norfolk countryside, and a handy nesting site for the local peregrine falcons. The birds wisely nest in the ruined East tower and so do not have their perch interrupted by the Abbey Bellringers each Tuesday and Sunday.

Unusually in the modern era, Wymondham can boast of a continuous tradition of bellringing going back to 1903 when the tower was renovated and eight bells installed. These days we are fortunate to ring on probably the best ring of ten bells in Norfolk, bells that were cast in 1967. We are also lucky to have a loyal and very capable band of ringers.

At the beginning of October, a band of ringers from Wymondham took part in the Norwich Diocese’s annual ringing festival and were adjudged to have completed the best performance of the day. This is the third time in the last four years that Wymondham have won this competition.

Our band is made up of people from many backgrounds and with a wide variety of ringing experience. Some have been ringers for over 50 years, having learned as children. Others have been ringing only a few months or years and are still “learning the ropes”. What we have in common is belonging to a caring, supportive group of fellow ringers, a sense of shared service to The Church and the local community, and enormous enjoyment when we ring the bells.

Anyone can learn to ring, although it may take a while before a new ringer has acquired the skills necessary to ring on Sunday morning or for weddings. A reasonable sense of rhythm and enjoying being part of a team are all that is required.

Practice night at Wymondham is on Tuesday at 7:30pm, and we welcome visitors who want to have a look at what is going on, perhaps with a view to learning to ring. We work with the Mancroft Ringing Discovery Centre in Norwich, the local training centre for bellringing and where David, our Ringing Master, is part of the teaching team.

Why not give it a go yourself?

Contact David at bellringing@wymondhamabbey.org.uk.