People standing near a bell tower mechanism

Bell Ringing Open Day - Wellington Cathedral of St Paul

Join us for an open day in the bell tower of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, where you can uncover its unique history and see the bellringers come out to play.

Take a tour through our ringing chamber and belfry, and see our 140-year-old bells up close. You will have a chance to watch the ringers in action, and maybe even have a go at chiming our 1500kg tenor bell, the largest swinging bell in New Zealand! Discover the secret world of bells and bellringing, something the public doesn't normally get to see. You may have never known that people are pulling on the ropes to make the bells ring! *One of the few towers in the world accessible by lift! PLEASE NOTE: *The 10:00 - 11:30 am session on 26/10 will take place at Old St Paul's, Mulgrave Street.

Health & Safety

Please be aware that touching the bell ropes and access to the bells outside of the designated viewing areas is strictly prohibited. You will only be permitted to handle a bell rope under the guidance and supervision of a bellringer. Hearing protection is not required in the ringing chamber, but earmuffs will be provided whilst in the belfry viewing gallery if the bells are going to be rung.

Location
James Thomas Bell Tower, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, 2 Hill Street, Thorndon 6011

Regions

Wellington CBD
Wellington

Tags

Open Day
Site Tour
Talk
Experience
Performance
Other
Accessible
Family Activities
Self-Guided

Event times

10am-3:30pm Sat 18 Oct

KohaEftpos and cash will be accepted

9-10am Sun 19 Oct

KohaEftpos and cash will be accepted

12-4pm Sun 19 Oct

KohaEftpos and cash will be accepted

10am-3:30pm Sat 25 Oct

KohaEftpos and cash will be accepted

9-10am Sun 26 Oct

KohaEftpos and cash will be accepted

10-11:30am Sun 26 Oct

KohaThis session will take place at Old St Paul's, Mulgrave Street.

3-4pm Sun 26 Oct

KohaEftpos and cash will be accepted

9-10am Sun 2 Nov

KohaEftpos and cash will be accepted

3-4pm Sun 2 Nov

KohaEftpos and cash will be accepted

Event hosts

Wellington Combined Society of Bellringers

We are responsible for ringing the church bells at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul and Old St Paul's. We also ring on the John David Mini Ring, which is housed at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, and on Handbells. We ring according to an old English Art known as Change Ringing, which was developed as early as the 16th century. The bells are hung on a full wheel and swung by rope until facing upside down. They are then rung from balance point to balance point, enabling small but precise changes in the timing of when the bells strike. But, we don't ring traditional tunes due to the length of time it takes for the bell to swing - instead, we ring methods, whereby bells move in a set pattern and at a maximum of one place at a time, producing different 'permutations'

Email: info@wellingtonringers.nz