Carlisle Cathedral has welcomed a new cohort of bell ringers after they earned a qualification.
The iconic Carlisle Cathedral has 33 tower members, and all 12 bells have been rung for services every Sunday in 2024.
New recruits were celebrated recently after achieving an ART (Association of Ringing Teachers) Level, which provides a structured teaching programme from level one, Bell Handling to level five, Change Ringer with certificates awarded as each ringer achieves that level.
Ron East, bell tower captain, said: "Congratulations to everyone who has achieved an ART Level recently, and thank you all for your fantastic contribution to Cathedral life.
"There has been a lot of teaching and learning taking place in the ringing room at Carlisle Cathedral. Eleven Cathedral ringers have achieved at least one of the ART Levels in bell ringing within the first six months of 2024.
"There can be as many as nine teaching sessions in a week but the bells, of which there are 13 newly installed as a millennium project, are rarely heard during these sessions. The clappers of the bells are tied to silence them but each bell is fitted with a sensor that sends a signal to a computer in the ringing room.
"The computer plays the sound of the bell inside the ringing room through loud speakers allowing the learner to both handle the bell and hear it. No sound is heard outside the tower so local businesses, shops and residents are not disturbed!
"The bells are well used but the tower has a team of steeple keepers led by the diocesan bells advisor who maintain the bells, inspect them for safe working and repair or replace ropes.
"Our ringers are also working with towers nearby, teaching new ringers and supporting the ringing at Brampton, Thursby and Wigton churches and occasionally at towers further away including Brough, Kirkby Stephen, Shap and Bampton. The tower also hosts training sessions on our bells on occasional Saturdays for ringers from other Guild towers in the diocese."
Recruitment for new ringers is currently paused as the new members continue to receive training.
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