Bell-ringer

A bell-ringer is a person who rings, tolls or peals a large bell, usually a church bell, by tugging on a long rope. Since the invention of the carillon, the need for bell ringers has declined. Also some churches have replaced bell-ringing altogether with a loudspeaker that plays bell music from a computer or music player.

The profession saw spectacular revival in Russia, paralleling growth of the Russian Orthodox Church influence (see Russian Orthodox bell ringing).

Secrets of the skill of bell ringers in Russia passed from generation to generation, but in the XX century this art was almost lost. Until recently, the training took place at the workshops. Now in Moscow, opened the first permanent school bells bell-ringer under the leadership of Drozdihin Ilya^[1]..

Hazards

In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the sound of a bell could disperse thunder.^[2] A large number of bell-ringers were electrocuted as a result. For example, in France between the years 1753 and 1786, 103 bell-ringers were killed during thunderstorms as a result of holding on to wet bell ropes. The Parlement of Paris enforced an edict in 1786 to forbid the practice.^[3] Deaths likely continued until the 19th century, when the lightning rod came into general use.

See also

• Bolognese bell ringing art
• Change ringing
• Campanology
• Christmas kettle

References

v t e Bells Background and terminology bell bellfounding bell tower / campanile bell-ringer campanology church bell ring of bells strike tone zvonnitsa Bell founders and foundries Andrey Chokhov Bilbie family Franciscus Illenfeld Geert van Wou Gillett & Johnston John Taylor & Co Kashpir Ganusov McShane Bell Foundry Meneely Bell Foundry Petit & Fritsen Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry Whitechapel Bell Foundry Types agogô altar bell babendil bianzhong carillon chime cowbell crotal bell dead bell doorbell dōtaku glockenspiel handbell jingle bell kane pyeonjong singing bowl suzu tintinnabulum tubular bells Bellringing bell pattern Blagovest Bolognese bell ringing art change ringing Canpanò Doubles (bells) Grandsire method ringing peal Russian Orthodox bell ringing Notable bells List of heaviest bells Balangiga bells Big Ben Great Bell of Dhammazedi Liberty Bell Mingun Bell Sigismund Bell St. Petersglocke Swan Bells Tom Tower Tsar Bell World Peace Bell