Southampton University Guild Change Ringers

Southampton University Guild Change Ringers

Southampton University Guild Change Ringers (SUGCR) is a bellringing society for students and staff at university in Southampton. The Guild has a rich history stretching back 60 years, and continues to be an active and vibrant society.

Southampton University Guild Change Ringers has a strong social aspect in addition to our ringing activities, and we put great emphasis on enjoying ourselves whilst working to improve both our standard of ringing and our repertoire of methods.

Our membership comprises a vast range of abilities, and everyone is welcome; especially those who want to try it out for the very first time.

The Southampton University Guild Change Ringers are a group of students who meet every Thursday 7:30-9:00pm to take part in bell ringing followed by a drink or two in a nearby pub, for details of which tower we are ringing at contact the Secretary.

Where does this all happen?

The Southampton University Guild Change Ringers is lucky enough to ring at 5 different churches in Southampton and even has its own miniring (a small ring of bells weighing only a few pounds!). There are two towers in the city centre (St Mary’s – 10 bells and St Michael’s – 10 bells), One in Bitterne Park (12 bells), One just north of the M27 motorway (North Stoneham – 10 bells) and St Barnabas Lodge Road, the church where Sunday morning ringing takes place (6 bells). The Guild miniring, with the heaviest bell coming in at only 15 lbs is currently in St Mary’s Church South Stoneham, just across from Wessex Lane halls.

What are the people like?

Bell ringing is a hobby that not only keeps your mind active but is also incredibly social and our society has a huge number of social events throughout the year. We have three tours, where we travel across the country to visit other towns and ring at other churches, we have an annual dinner held in February/March every year where past and current members come together for one night to celebrate our fantastic guild, we also take part in an annual bell ringing competition with other University societies in the south of England. On top of all of this we have plenty of other socials suited to everyone.

I’m interested, but don’t think I’d be able to do it…

At the start of the new term we have three TASTER SESSIONS which are the perfect opportunity for you to come along and have a go. If after this you think you’d like to carry on learning, then excellent we’d love to sign you up, however if after these sessions you find it’s just not for you, we’ll say farewell, being happy you gave it a go.