During the past year the Joybells have been learning about tower bells, change ringing and the eventual evolution of bells into the church as handbells. This visit provided an opportunity for them to see, hear and even feel the power of large vibrating bells in a church tower.

During the 16th century churches built with an expansive collection of bells in their towers were viewed as an active and healthy church. Smaller bells were developed from these large tower bells as a way to practice without disturbing the community. These small bells were called "dumb bells" initially because they did not have any clappers inside to make sounds.

Ringers usually rehearsed on the dumb bells in the cold damp basement of the tower memorizing the pattern for the bell they would later ring from the end of a swinging rope. Sometimes women of the church made a quilt illustraing the pattern for each bell to be rung. To the church member this was a beautiful work of the art. To the new bell ringer it was salvation!