North American Guild of Change Ringers

The North American Guild of Change Ringers, also known as the NAGCR, was founded in 1972 after the hanging of a ring of bells in the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., United States in 1964. The NAGCR has now grown and expanded to 52 bell towers across the United States (44 towers) and Canada (8 towers) as well as one mini-ring and 9 hand-bell groups with more than 500 members residing in North America. This organization performs the art of change ringing or method ringing, a form of campanology, in the towers and on hand-bells. This art uses mathematical sequences and patterns to change bell orders to carry out these sequences. Change ringing began in England in the 17th century.

The primary goals of the NAGCR are to improve communications among ringers in the United States and Canada, to raise to standards of change ringing, to improve North American ringers' contacts with ringers outside North America, extend the appreciation of change ringing among the general public, and to abide with the rules of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers which is located in the United Kingdom. It also sells products including learning aids in the form of books or audio, shirts, and other souvenirs. The NAGCR provides a book service and maintains videos for rent.