Dear Members,
A petition for the inclusion of bell-ringing in the UK’s Inventory of Living Heritage
As you may be aware, there has been an initiative by the UK Government to create an inventory of living heritage in the UK as a result of becoming a supporter of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is intended to be a world-wide register of the customs, traditions and heritage of the populations across the globe.
We are all aware that the sound of bells ringing has been an integral part of our country’s soundscape for centuries and it surely deserves inclusion in such a register. Bellringing in both Italy and Spain has already been included so why shouldn’t the English tradition of ringing bells with rope and wheel also be listed?
There may be long term benefits from inclusion. We are all aware of the current decline in active ringers and the impact that this is beginning to have on ringing in general and , whilst this inventory will not instantly resolve these problems, it may help garner support with the ongoing safeguarding of the living heritage in the UK to ensure it can continue and be passed on.
To that end, the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR) are currently putting together a submission for this register. In order to be able to make the application, the CCCBR has to have the consent of its community.
The Central Council is the representative body for all who ring bells in the English tradition with rope and wheel and the KCACR is affiliated to the CCCBR. Consequently, all of our members are represented by the Council, which acts as our national voice and promotes awareness of change ringing as a social and cultural activity.
Living heritage can only be regarded as living if it has the support of its practitioners. I am, therefore, asking all members of the KCACR to sign a petition to show their support of the CCCBR application to have the English system of ringing bells with a rope and wheel included on the Inventories of Living Heritage in the UK. The form will require your name, email address and the tower where you ring or the Association that you represent. The link to the petition is here: https://cccbr.org.uk/heritage/
Please do circulate this to other ringers that you may know, both here in Kent and further afield.
Thank you,
Neil Jones
KCACR Chairman