The Leicester Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers (LDG or The Guild) is a territorial guild, which covers the area of the Diocese of Leicester. It was formed on 1^st January 1946. Before that, the area covered by the Diocese of Leicester was part of of the Midlands Counties Association.

The Guild is currently divided into six districts. These are:

• Hinckley
• Leicester
• Loughborough
• Market Harborough
• Melton Mowbray
• Syston

Aims

The aims of the Guild are:

• to promote ringing for Divine Service and to secure the recognition of the ringers’ office as an important part of Church work
• to advance the art of scientific change-ringing and at the same time insist upon “good striking”: frequent meetings of members of the Guild to be arranged in various centres in order to assist towards this end, and also bring the members into close relationship with one other
• to extend the appreciation of change-ringing among the general public, with a view to implanting a more intelligent comprehension of the intellectual side of the ringers’ art
• to ensure that church bells are maintained in proper condition; the bell-loft to be kept clean and in good order; the fittings and framework to receive all the needful attention; the ringers’ room to be properly appointed, to be kept clean and in good order
• to provide instructors in the science of change ringing, at a reasonable cost, for those who require them
• to provide funding for maintaining and improving bells through the Bell Restoration Fund.

The LDG is a registered charity, no. 1050533. The Bell Restoration Fund is also a registered charity, no. 508748.

Committee

The Guild is administered by the General Committee which is made up of the Guild Officers and District Committee members – see the Guild Officers page for an up-to-date list of the Guild Officers and District Contacts. In addition, the Guild’s Central Council representatives are also part of the General Committee.

The following Committees report into the General Committee:

• Bell Restoration Fund – Fund-raising Committee
• Bell Restoration Fund – Allocations Committee
• Bells Committee
• Education and Recruitment Committee

The Central Council representatives for the Guild attend the Annual Central Council Meeting and represent the Guild at that meeting. Some members may also be active on sub committees of the Council.

The Guild’s current Representatives are:

• Carol Franklin
• Sally Brown
• Steve Millington

More details about the Central Council can be found on the council’s website.