The Safeguarding Team work with the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers (PDG) to ensure that all who wish to ring or learn to ring within the bell towers across the Diocese are able to do so safely.
It is not compulsory for someone to become a member of the Guild in order to learn to ring. The PDG website has useful information about all aspects of bell ringing.
This guidance has been co-produced by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers, to ensure that our ringers and our parishes can work together to continue to ensure good safeguarding practices within our churches, particularly for the context of the bell tower. Ringing chambers are often separate from the main body of the church and bell ringers as individuals often ring in more than one church.
The updated requirements provide clear guidance for towers and ringing bands on how the Diocese’s Safer Church expectations apply specifically to bellringing. They recognise the important role played by the Guild, tower captains and local ringing communities in creating a positive and safe environment for ringers of all ages.
Under the arrangements, tower captains, leaders, trainers and anyone involved in teaching bellringing will need an appropriate DBS check and safeguarding training. All bellringers will also be asked to complete the Basic Safeguarding Awareness course, while those undertaking leadership or training roles will complete the Leadership Training Pathway.
At least one person with a current DBS certificate will need to be present at every practice or ringing session, with additional provisions in place for young ringers, visiting bands and those who are not attached to a particular parish. Towers will also keep a simple register of those attending ringing sessions.
The Guild and Diocese hope the requirements will provide a clear and consistent approach across our church towers, supporting bellringers as they continue to share their skills, welcome new people and sustain the important tradition of church bellringing.
The 2026 guidance can be viewed here.
The guidance for visiting bands can be viewed here.
If you require an editable version (to add your benefice/parish and tower details) of the visiting bands guidance, please email the safeguarding team on safeguarding@peterborough-diocese.org.uk