SCACR Membership

Membership of the Association is open to anyone (both ringers and non-ringers) interested in supporting our aims and objectives – which are primarily to support the art of change ringing in Sussex. We encourage anyone who rings regularly in Sussex to join.

Member benefits

As an SCACR member you can enjoy:

  • the fellowship and support from belonging to a wider community of bellringers;
  • participation in ringing and social events organised by the Districts and Association;
  • the benefit of participating in low cost or free District/Association training sessions and courses;
  • access to free bell maintenance and restoration advice;
  • eligibility to apply for Association grants to support bell restoration and other projects in your tower;
  • eligibility to apply for Young Ringers grants (for members under 25 years old);
  • eligibility to apply for a grant to cover course fees for training sessions of wider benefit (e.g. steeple-keeping and belfry maintenance, or train-the-trainer)
  • news and updates, District newsletters, and the annual Association Handbook;
  • membership of the SCACR Facebook group;
  • through SCACR affiliation, access to the Central Council expertise, advice and support, and materials (SCACR pays affiliation fees to the Central Council);
  • contributing to deciding the focus and strategic direction of SCACR, through participation in your District and the Association AGMs.

Note that ‘non-resident members’ are only entitled to ring peals for the Association, not to any of the above benefits.

Membership categories

There are several different types of membership, as specified in the Association’s rules. In summary:

Adult Ringing Member (resident and/or regularly ringing in Sussex): resident and/or regularly ringing within Sussex. Ringing members are usually associated with a particular tower in Sussex. The guideline minimum competency is to be able to lower a bell safely and ring competently in rounds. To become a member, a ringer should be nominated (usually by their tower captain) and seconded using the online membership form. Membership Guidance Notes

Junior ringing member (under 18 on 1st January): as for an adult ringing member, but pays a reduced annual subscription.

Adult non-ringing member (associate): for non-ringers with a connection to the Association or who wish to support the activities. For example, learners who do not yet meet the minimum ringing competency, or people who are no longer able to ring, or non-ringers who wish to support the Association’s activities.

Junior non-ringing member (under 18 on 1st January): as for an adult non-ringing member, but pays a reduced annual subscription.

Adult non-resident member (to ring peals for SCACR): not resident nor a regular ringer within Sussex. Any non-member wishing to attempt a peal for the SCACR must become a non-resident member by paying one year’s subscription. Non-resident members are only entitled to ring peals for the association, not to any other member benefits.

How do I join?

Membership is via annual subscription. To join or renew, use our online membership system; members should also update their personal details (e.g. change in email address) via this system. (Long-service members and Honorary life members are not required to pay an annual subscription fee.)

New members must be proposed and seconded by current, adult ringing members of the Association, via the membership form. Note that new members can join at any time, and are not elected at a meeting.

Download a printable Membership Application Form (use only for individuals who do not have internet access), the Membership Guidance Notes and our Privacy Policy.

If you have any questions regarding membership, please do not hesitate to contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

I want to learn to ring!

Great! Find out more about learning to ring. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find a ringing teacher near you.

A vision for SCACR - Revised Rules Passed

The EGM on 27th September was attended by 30 members at the Scout HQ in Hurstpierpoint. As the date clashed with a number of tower outings and weddings, the General Secretary recorded apologies from over 40 members, many of whom had commented that they were happy with the rules circulated and hoped that they would be passed.

After discussion and some minor amendments, the new set of rules was accepted

Read more: A vision for SCACR - Revised Rules Passed

Roll of Honour

Great War Centenary

Large numbers of bellringers from the British Isles and its Empire served in the First World War in His Majesty’s Forces on sea, land and in the air, at home and abroad, some never to return.

The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR) Great War 1914-1918 Roll of Honour commemorates all those known ringers who fell. These names were collected from Association Secretaries in the early 1920’s and then inscribed into a commissioned handwritten Memorial Book. The Memorial Book was presented to the Council during the 1924 meeting.

From 1995 onwards missing names began to be added to the Memorial Book and more especially so in recent years making the listing more complete and accurate as possible. In doing this it has filled up the original Book requiring a second handwritten book to be commissioned. These Memorial Books can be viewed in a display case on the way up to the ringing chamber at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Images of the pages of the CC Roll of Honour are available to view online. Photographic copies of the pages of each Book together with a listing of the text are available. Each entry shows the ringer’s name, initials, home tower and society name where known.

Alan Regin

2017 - Alan Regin M.B.E., CCCBR Steward of the Rolls of Honour, at the John Taylor Bell Foundry, Loughborough, Leicestershire with the bells for St George's Memorial Church, Ypres prior to their departure.

Alan Regin M.B.E., is the current Steward of the Rolls of Honour for the CCCBR and he and his team are owed a tremendous vote of thanks for the hard work they have done to ensure that as many names as possible of those bell-ringers who fell serving their county in the Great War are commemorated.

During 2018 more SCACR bell-ringers names who lost their lives in the Great War have come to light and are now listed in the latest (March 2019) SCACR Roll of Honour pdf update. This includes a listing of all the known Sussex ringers (260) and their Home Tower who served in the Great War and returned. Perhaps you may know of someone who has been missed, if you do then please let me know.

You’re all encouraged to participate in this memorial by contributing any names, photographs or biographical details that you may have to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Roll_of_Honour.pdf - updated March 2019.

Alan Seymour
March 2019

Documents

Rules

SCACR Rules (Revised at the AGM in May 2025)

Appendix to Rules Officers Teams Guidance Note July 2014

Minutes

Association meeting minutes are available from the relevant secretary. The AGM minutes are also available in Membermojo

Other documents

Listed below are documents relating to the association, covering a range of topics. If you can't find what you are looking for or you spot an omission or error, then please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SCACR Privacy Policy

SCACR Health and Safety Policy PDF (docx) (Mar 2025)

SCACR Event Record Form (pdf) (docx)

Bell Maintenance Course Notes

Events

Event Organiser Guidelines (Nov 2020)

Risk Assessment must be completed for all events by the organiser.

Financial Documents

Financial Policy (Oct 2024) (pdf)

Expenses Policy (Oct 2024) (pdf)

Expenses Form (Oct 2022) (pdf) (word)

Gift Aid Form (Oct 2022)

Association Rules - Competition Rules

A copy of the rules for a range of striking competitions can be found below:

SCACR Call Change Competition Rules (Western District)

SCACR Method Ringing Competition Rules (Western District)

SCACR Striking Competition Rules (Southern District)

 

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