North American guild of Change Ringers Annual Meeting

The city of Philadelphia is one of the great cities of North America.  There is a history of bells and bell ringing which extends back to the colonial period.

For more information about many fun things to do in Philadelphia please visit the website  go philadelphia.com

The Philadelphia Guild of Change Ringers is looking forward to welcoming ringers from all over North America and from abroad to ring in both of our bell towers August 13 - 18, 2002. A fun filled week is being planned by your hosts including: A opening night ringing and welcome to Philly party in the garden at Saint Mark's Church on Tuesday August 13.  A Philadelphia Skyline Boat Tour is planned for Wednesday evening.  Thursday evening there are tickets available for a night at Phillies Baseball.  On Friday there probably will be a trip to Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green in quaint and historic New Castle, DE.  In the evening we will enjoy a picnic party and BBQ hosted at the home of one of the Philadelphia ringers.  Saturday there will be time to walk the historic city as we present a "Bells of Philadelphia" walking tour. A chance to see the Liberty Bell and the rarely seen bells of the historic rings of Christ Church and Saint Peter's Church as well the Bell given to the United States by Queen Elizabeth during the nations bicentennial. Saturday afternoon will be the business meeting of the Guild at Saint Mark's Church.  Saturday night the Philadelphia party people are pulling out the stops as we enjoy a sumptuous feast for the AGM banquet.  On Sunday we can offer service ringing for the two Philadelphia  towers and we would like to encourage a band to visit the tower in New Castle to ring for service there as well.  We would also like two bands of handbell ringers to ring in various churches.  Our hope is that if we have a band at both Christ Church and at Saint Peter's, this may spur them on to restoration! 

We are also offering discounted tickets for the Philly Trolley Works.  This trolley goes throughout the city and stops at many hotels and all of the historical sites and the museums. The tickets are available for advance purchase at a rate of $15 which is $3 off the usual price.  The tickets can be used at any time during your stay in Philadelphia and may be an excellent diversion for those who are not ringing.

A ringing trip to Saint Mary's, Burlington, NJ,  had initially been planned, but it seems that the proposed ringing at Saint Mary's Burlington will have to be cancelled. We sincerely apologize to those who were hoping to ring at this tower.

Registration

All Registration forms must be received by July 29, 2002

 For a printable Registration Form click here (need Adobe Acrobat Reader, free download) 

Check in tables will be available at most event for arrivals.

Ringing Course, August 14, 15 and 16 (a.m.)

Course Fee $ 20 

Courses will be in three levels

Please note, there will not be opportunities for advanced ringing during the Ringing Course.

Persons wishing to assist as a helper at the Ringing Course will be charged a fee of $7.50 to help cover the cost of refreshments and the course fee is waived.

North American Guild of Change Ringers Annual General Meeting, August 16 (p.m.), 17 & 18

General Registration Fee $15

There will be quarter peals and handbell ringing available.

Seminars/Workshops offered in Conducting, Abel Simulator and Handbells.

Annual General Business Meeting: Saturday August 17, 3.30 to 5.30 p.m.

Please do not print this page to mail in registrations.  Please use the printable on line form 

Accommodations

A Block of Rooms are available at the Best Western Center City Hotel at 501 North 22nd Street. Rooms are set aside from the 12th through the 18th at $89 per night for the room, plus taxes.  Reservations made by calling the hotel directly at (215-568-8300) and mentioning the North American Guild of Change Ringers. Rate Cut off Date is July 12, 2002.

Youth Hostel Accommodations: Chamounix Mansion West Fairmount Park,, Philadelphia, PA 19131, 215-878-3676 or 1-800-379-0017 email chamounix@philahostel.org.  Cost, $16 a night for non-member plus linen rental fee $2.  Further details on price and location can by looking at their website.

Other Hotel accommodations can be arranged on your own by looking at go philadelphia.com or another website with hotel information on it.

Other Information

To see a map of the locations of the accommodations and the hosting towers click here

Ringers arriving by air will find the regional rail line's R1 commuter rail runs to the Center City at 30 minute intervals seven days a week. Taxis from the airport charge a flat rate of $20 to center city hotels.

Courses and Ringing will take place at both The Church of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia and Saint Mark's Church, Philadelphia.  Free on street and lot parking at Saint Martin's in Chestnut Hill is plentiful.  There is metered parking limited to two hours on Locust Street in Philadelphia near Saint Mark's and various lots and garages close to Saint Mark's Church.  Those staying at the Best  Western Hotel may wish to explore the surface transportation options.  The Philadelphia Phlash Bus stops near the hotel and stops at Locust Street and 17th street west of Saint Mark's. Also Bus Route 48 stops on 21st street near the hotel and stops at 17th  and Market, four blocks north of Saint Mark's.  People may wish to car pool to a lot near Saint Mark's and share in expenses.  To shuttle between the two towers many visitors to Philadelphia find the R8 commuter rail line which departs Suburban Station a short 5 block walk to the north of Saint Mark's and stops with in a block of Saint Martin's a very convenient way to get around.  For more information on the regions transit system please look at the SEPTA website.

Channels 3(CBS), 6(ABC), 10(NBC), 29(FOX), 12 (PBS) provide news and programming.  KYW 1060 AM radio provides 24 hour news, traffic, and weather information every 10 minutes.

All rates quoted on this page are in US Dollars.