North American Guild of Change Ringers

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The North American Guild of Change Ringers also known as the NAGCR, was founded in 1972 after the hanging of a ring of bells in the Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C., United States in 1964. The NAGCR has now grown and expanded to 50 bell towers across the United States (42 towers) and Canada (with 8 towers) with over 450 members residing in North America. This organization performs the art of change ringing or method ringing, a form of campanology, in the towers. This art uses mathematical sequences and patterns to change bell orders to carry out these sequences. Change ringing began in England in the 17th century.

The primary goals of the NAGCR are to improve communications among ringers not only in the United States and Canada, but throughout the whole ringing world, to raise to standards of change ringing, to broaden knowledge and gratitude towards ringing through the public, and to comply with the rules of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringing. It also provides services such as learning aids in the form of books or audio and various souvinirs as well as shirts.

[edit] Membership

There are three categories of membership with the Guild and also an extra classification for full time students attending an accredited educational institution and seniors.

Resident Membership- Is open to all resident North American ringers. Applications shall be accompanied by a letter of sponsorship confirming that the applicant is a bell ringer or is learning to ring either tower or handbells.

Associate Membership- Is open to any resident of North America who wishes to support the purposes of the Guild. For this category of sponsorship no ringing experience is necessary.

Non-Resident Life Membership- Available to persons not a resident of North America.

[edit] The Clapper

The Guild also publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Clapper, that conducts ringing courses, provides a book service, rents films, and distributes information about change ringing in North America. This service is included in all membership services excluding non-resident life membership. The Clapper is available in both a mailed and electronic version.