Change Ringing in Boston, Massachusetts
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There are two towers in Boston, Massachusetts, both Episcopal (Anglican) churches, both with active bands, and both rings of eight. We are, of course, delighted to welcome any visiting ringers to either or both towers. New ringers are actively taught at both towers as well. If you are interested in learning to ring please contact the ringer in charge at either tower, using the email addresses below.

The Church of the Advent

The Church of the Advent practices Thursday nights from 7:00 until 9:00. Several times a year Thursday practices are canceled, usually because of conflicts with various Holy Days or because there is a concert at the Church. For this reason, visitors should check before traveling any distance to attend practice. The Ringing Master at The Advent is Danielle Morse. Questions about ringing times or other matters should be directed towards Dianne Cermak <dspc@comcast.net>. You may also want to look at the Boston ringing calendar, although checking by email is still a good idea.

There is ringing every Sunday at the Advent starting at the end of the 9:00 Mass, and running until 11:05, just before the start of the 11:15 Mass. During most of the year the 9:00 Mass ends about 10:10; during Lent it usually runs a bit longer, while during the summer it can be over as early as 10:00.

The Advent is located at the corner of Brimmer and Mt Vernon Streets, at the base of Beacon Hill. If you get lost and need to ask directions, it may be useful to know that it is just a few blocks down Brimmer Street from a well known tourist attraction, the "Cheers" pub. The closest T (underground train, also referred to as the subway) stop to the Advent is Charles Street on the Red Line. If you are coming on the Green Line it is generally easier to get off at Arlington Street and walk, than it is to transfer to the Red Line.

The Old North Church

The bells of the Old North Church are rung by the MIT Guild of Bellringers. Practices are Saturday mornings from 11:00 until 1:00. Several times a year Saturday practices are canceled, usually because of travel or other commitments by too many members of the band on a weekend, not leaving a quorum. For this reason, visitors should check before traveling any distance to attend practice. The Ringing Master is Mish Madsen <mish@mit.edu>. You may also want to look at the Boston ringing calendar, although checking by email is still a good idea.

There is ringing every Sunday at Old North starting at the end of the 11:00 service. This is usually general service ringing, and runs until about 1:00. Several times a year, however, general service ringing is replaced by a peal or quarter peal attempt. For this reason, visitors should check before traveling any distance to attend service ringing. The 11:00 service usually ends sometime between 11:50 and 12:05.

Old North Church is at the corner of Salem and Hull Streets in the North End. It is one of Boston's best known tourist attractions, and should be easy to find. There is even a red line painted on the sidewalk (pavement) that leads to it! The closest T (underground train, also referred to as the subway) stop to Old North is Haymarket on the Green and Orange Lines.

Handbell ringing at MIT

There is also a handbell (change ringing) practice at MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) on Monday nights, under the auspices of the MIT Guild of Bellringers. It begins about 7:30, and is in one or more rooms in the academic buildings of MIT that are along Massachusetts Avenue (buildings 1, 3, 5 and 7). Because of some construction in the building where we used to ring regularly, it is best to check ahead of time for an exact room number. The closest T stop is Kendall Square on the Red Line, and the number 1 bus stops practically on the doorstep of these buildings. Several times a year Monday practices are canceled, usually because of other commitments by too many members of the band not leaving a quorum. For this reason, visitors should check before traveling any distance to attend practice. The MIT Guild Ringing Master is Mish Madsen <mish@mit.edu>. You may also want to look at the Boston ringing calendar, although checking by email is still a good idea.

Driving and Parking

Boston deservedly has the reputation of being one of the most difficult cities in North America to drive and park in. Visitors are urged to use public transportation or walk if convenient. Both towers and MIT are easily reached by public transport. If you really must drive, the most convenient parking for the Advent is the garage under Boston Common, and for Old North is the Haymarket garage. There are closer, smaller garages, but these two are easily found and reasonably conveniently located. On street parking should be available near MIT in the evening.

Email lists

If you live in the Boston area, or visit it frequently, you may want to subscribe to the boston-change-ringers mailing list. This is a list maintained by Ken Olum and is used primarily to announce things like canceled practices or upcoming weddings. It is a low volume list. Subscribers only receive an average of one or two messages a week from it.

There is also a monday-handbells mailing list used primarily to discuss cancellations of those practices. It is even lower volume, often remaining silent for months at a time.

There is also a calendar of ringing events in Boston, maintained by Mira Blumberg <miracb@gmail.com>, in Google Calendar. If you use Google Calendar yourself you can easily incorporate this calendar into your own by going to Calendars panel on the left of the screen, clicking the + next to "Other Calendars", and searching for "Boston Change Ringers".

To keep in touch with ringing across North America you can sign up for the nag-talk list, maintained by Bill Buckner. Message volume on this list averages perhaps a few messages a week. If preferred, you can also sign up for a digest version, or for no mail delivery and simply look at the messages at your leisure on the web site.

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