Canterbury Colleges Society of Change Ringers

Canterbury Colleges Society Change Ringers

The Canterbury Colleges Society of Change Ringers is open to all students, staff and alumni of the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, the University for the Creative Arts (Canterbury) and Canterbury College. The Society rings with St Dunstan’s, Canterbury on Friday evenings (see below). There is a very active ringing scene in the city, with Wednesday being the only night that there isn’t a tower practising in the immediate area.

Mondays

St. Stephens, Hackington, (8 bells, 10-1-26)

Situated on the north side of the city, this is the nearest tower to you if you end up in Hales Place.

Practices are 19:00-21:00. Usually the first hour is centered around learners with targeted ringings of Doubles methods (aspects such as covering, trebling and inside are covered) and Call Changes on either 6 or 8.

In the second hour Stedman, Grandsire and Bob Triples are rung, as well as 3, 4 or 5-spliced from the Standard 8. It is a lovely easy-going 8 at St. Stephens and we organise quarter peals every other Sunday evening.

Sunday ringing is currently covered by organised quarter peals.

Afterwards: the ringers frequent a number of local establishments including The Unicorn, 61 St Dunstan’s Street, CT2 8BS and Ye Olde Beverlie, St Stephen’s Green, CT2 7JU.

Contact: Adam Redgwell

Tuesdays

This night there are two towers practicing just outside the city:

St. Nicholas, Sturry, (6 bells, 9-3-7)

Super 9½ cwt 6, and home to a very competitive band with good striking. Sturry have regularly won the local competitions and have represented the District at County level (as also have St Dunstans, so there is a friendly rivalry between the two towers).

** Practices are 19:30-21:00 & Sunday ringing is 8:45 **

If you end up on the Sturry Road side of the city (near the big ASDA) there is an excellent bus service out towards Sturry and Margate.

Sturry ring a lot of Surprise and Delight Minor, with fast-paced touches of Original making a regular appearance.

Afterwards: the ringers usually go to the Fordwich Arms (in England’s smallest town!) and there are late buses back from the main road in Sturry.

Contact: Jo Horton
St Nicholas, Thanington, (6 bells, 4-2-25)

A nice light 6 here, a friendly and homely tower that have a break for tea and biscuits in the practice.

** Practices are 19:00-21:00 & Sunday ringing is 9:30 **

Lots of Doubles methods and variations rung here, with occasional Minor methods.

If you end up living in Wincheap this will be your nearest tower; unfortunately the evening bus service from the City isn’t much cop, but if you’re lucky you can catch the Park and Ride ‘bus out to the Morrison’s Car Park and then walk over the A2 bridge to the church.

Afterwards: every last Tuesday of the month, the ringers all go to the Kings Head in Wincheap.

Contact: Tony Martin

Thursdays

Cathedral & Metropolitical Church of Christ, (12 bells, 34-3-4)

Practice night from 19:15-21:00. 34cwt 12 with two semitones to allow a light 15cwt 10.

Methods include Grandsire and Stedman Caters/Cinques, Plain, Little, Kent and Surprise Royal/Maximus.

One-off visits are very welcome. If you wish to attend on a regular basis then your bell striking needs to be of a good standard and you need to be competent at ringing at least seven and eight bell methods.

Sunday Service ringing is 10.00-11.00 for the Eucharist service and 16:15-17:30 for Evensong. Quarter peals are arranged for Evensong on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month.

Afterwards: the ringers usually head to one of the local city centre pubs.

Contact: Tom Brett

Fridays

St Dunstans, (6 bells, 13-2-15)

A 13cwt 6 and the 5th dates from 1325! This is the nearest tower to the main entrance side of UKC and the Whitstable Road.

A busy, fast practice here, 19:30-21:00, with lots of Doubles variations and Minor methods rung, Kent and Cambridge Minor are also rung regularly.

A small ringing room, but in the summer months you can get out onto the church roof for a bit more room and there are unrivaled views of the city. St Dunstans has a friendly rivalry with both St Stephens and Sturry and there’s plenty of friendly banter in the lead up to the two District Competitions.

Sunday ringing is 9:30-10:00.

Afterwards: first port of call is the Unicorn (just by the level crossing), then often going on into the City to either the Bell and Crown or the Lady Luck until the wee small hours of the morning.

Contact: Len Huckstep &