In this university city filled with sports societies and nightclub leaflets, there is one group of enthusiastic students helping keep a ding-dong tradition alive.
A little way up above the streets in Lincoln city centre, students make the trek up a narrow church staircase to take part in the 400-year-old practice of bellringing.
St Mary le Wigford Church – which dates back 1,000 years – is where the University of Lincoln Society of Bell Ringers meet to jangle bells that were around at the same time of William Shakespeare.
The society’s president, Owen Peters, who began this unusual hobby at the age of five, believes that tradition interests students as it offers something completely different to modern university life.
The 20-year-old said: “It’s that one society you’ve never heard of, and you’re not really quite sure what it’s about so students come along and have a go, and it defies all their expectations, and actually, they actually quite enjoy it.”
Bellringing consists of a team of ringers pulling downwards on a rope in different sequences to create an array of varied chimes, typically done in cathedrals and churches.
“I think it is really important to get more young people involved to keep the traditional alive”.
The society began in 2023, and practice every Wednesday, alternating between St Mary le Wigford and St Peter at Gowts, both dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries.
Owen added: “We’ve got a lot more young people that have come and joined the society, and like you’ve seen tonight, we regularly get about twenty on a practice night now.”
Data from the Central Council of Church Bellringers forecast that the number of bellringers could almost halve by 2048, decreasing from the 30,000 in 2023, to 16,500.
“It’s really important to keep that history because many people in the bellringing community are in their 80s or 90s, and I think in ten or twenty years’ time, you’re not going to be walking through your local village hearing church bells,” he added.
The society has also had the opportunity to ring its first peal, a non-stop marathon of ringing, including 5,000 different changes lasting just over three hours, which Owen hailed his biggest highlight with the society.
“The society never achieved that before, and it was one of the things I set out to do when I took over as president, so being able to achieve that with a band of all uni ringers, bar one, and three first pealers was quite an achievement for me.”
One of the oldest bells rung by the society weighs 325 kilograms – heavier than a large Siberian tiger.
The University of Lincoln isn’t the only university with a bellringing society, with others in Sheffield, Nottingham, Liverpool and London all getting students involved with the art.
The societies growth is reflected through the number of students climbing the tower each week, and while some members have prior experience, others have discovered the practice for the first time at university.
Eighteen-year-old Luke Marsden is a member of the society, and began ringing three years ago, following on from five generations of bellringers in his family, and describes it as a “great way to spend your time”.
He explained: “The fact there is a bellringing society that I can join and ring alongside other people my age is brilliant.
“You never stop learning and there is always something new to move onto and learn, it is like a mind game.”
On the contrary, fellow member, Amy Stanier, was unaware of what bellringing was before she started university, and was drawn to the traditional aspect of the art.
The 19-year-old explained: “I’d never heard of bellringing before September when I started university, but I just wanted something new to try, and I like old things, and this was definitely an old thing.
“Even though it may seem small and not many people hear of it, it’s still a big community.”
Both members explained that the society is a friendly environment for people to learn and improve their bellringing techniques.
Luke mentioned: “The society consists of everyone learning to progress far with their ringing capabilities, and skills, and it’s great fun to push yourself, and to try achieving more in the world of ringing.”
“I was surprised by the training element, learning each week, getting lots of guidance and support, especially beginners, so it’s really nice,” Amy added.
“It’s a great way to meet new people, and it keeps the tradition of bellringing alive.”
For a centuries old practice many fear could disappear in years to come, students in Lincoln and across the country are fighting – or should I say ringing – to keep the tradition alive.
