The Oxford City Branch of Home News About Towers Bells Ringing Sounds Events Outings Gallery Middlemyte Quiz Documents Contacts

stablished in 1881, the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers [ODG] is an English society which represents members from the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. It is affiliated with the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers [CCCBR]. The Oxford City Branch of the ODG unites about half of the practising bell towers in Oxford. These are located on both sides of the ring road, with three in the city centre. The remaining towers, all in the city centre, are affiliated with either the Oxford University Society [OUSCR] or the Oxford Society of Change Ringers [OSCR].

The Branch Practice at Headington

espite its modest size, the Oxford City Branch enjoys a thoroughly diverse array of ringing activities. Frequent outings are supplemented by Saturday and Sunday quarter peal mornings. These are in addition to branch practices and training mornings. Our aim is to provide the opportunity for assiduous ringers to gain vital experience, so that they may return to their own towers, and thus pass on their newly acquired skills to other members of the guild. Since the year 2000, there has been the chance for ringers to avail themselves of many towers outside our own branch. In doing so, we have achieved numerous firsts, in both method and quarter peal ringing.

A Quarter Peal at Bletchingdon

he purpose of this site is to provide a resource for anyone who wishes to ring the bells of Oxford. It describes each of our church towers (some with audio recordings), and the days on which we practise ringing on a regular basis. It also gives details of future events, such as ringing and conducting practices, outings and quarter peals. You can find a gallery of pictures and a record of outings from the past. There's a general news section, also containing articles submitted by our readers. If you are mindlessly conventional, then look out for the soap-opera and the quiz. There's even an incredibly boring explanation of what this bell ringing stuff is all about. If you have visited the Branch, and Hugh has taken your picture, then you may find yourself in the picture gallery. Please refer to the contacts section if you think you may be brave enough to talk to any of us. To see a list of the latest updates to this site, click on the last updated links at the top and bottom right of this page.

Practising Grandsire Caters at Bicester

nyone, aged 8 to 80 years old, is more than welcome to join the City Branch. Ringers are not necessarily religious. They span the complete range of the Dawkins' scale, from absolute theist (complete belief) to absolute atheist (total disbelief). Just come along to one of our practice evenings and have a go, though please contact the Tower Correspondent, in advance, if you can. Note that some towers place restrictions on ringers who are under 18 years old, but Hugh Deam is the magic person to contact if you are unsure of which to visit. We hope to encourage more people to take up the ancient, yet somehow strangely modern, challenge of church bell ringing.