Just as the famous Fairytale of New York song line goes “the bells were ringing out for Christmas Day” – and what a wonderful noise they make.

Some say they symbolise the announcement of the birth of Christ while others claim they ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. But have you ever stopped to think about those who ring them and just what it takes to fill Kent’s towns with the festive sounds?

At St Michael’s Church in Sittingbourne, a mixture of ringers – young, old and of all beliefs – get together from across Swale to make friends, share their love for bells, and fill the night air with music.

David Ridley has been the vicar there for the past two years and started bell ringing again after speaking with a couple of ringers who had rung at other churches.

Bell ringing had become a secular pastime in England by the end of the 16th century and the noise would emanate from many churches well into the evening. Young people would take it up for exercise, as well as the fun of it.

St Michael’s has ringers aged from 11 to people in their 70s.

David, 63, said: “I’ve been a bell ringer for a long time but hadn’t rung, actually, for a long time either.

“When I came here two years ago it seemed like a good idea to try to get bell ringing started at the church again and try to get more people involved as well as some new learners, and it’s gone quite well.

“We have quite a good number of ringers at our practice nights.”

He added: “It started with Scott Pearce, a sixth former at Borden Grammar School who has been bell ringing for eight years. He brought along several of his friends and it got the word out about bell ringing to younger people.

“We also had a holiday club in the summer and we invited the children to come and have a go and we picked up two or three children who enjoyed the ringing and have carried on.”

Scott, who lives in Wormshill, a small village near Maidstone, explained he got into bell ringing for the community aspect.

The 18-year-old said: “Some of the best friends I have ever made have been whilst bell ringing and I’ll continue bell ringing for the rest of my life because of that.

“I also really enjoy turning these heavy bells into a nice method [a continually changing sequence of sound]. I also love teaching people to do the same.

“It is so nice to see people succeeding and I plan to continue it when I move away for university as well. I will do it for the rest of my life.”

Scott rings at other churches around the borough with dad James, 47, and sister Adele, who attends Invicta Grammar School in Maidstone.

The 14-year-old added: “We’re not religious but it is a great hobby. It is really fun and you also make some money when you ring for weddings.

“There is no age limit for ringing and once you get the hang of it, bell ringing is easy.”

Both siblings were taught by Tim Ford from Bredgar. The 65-year-old, who learned the ropes aged nine, rings alongside his wife Jay and the couple even bring their dog, Walter, along.

He said: “You can meet people and have fun, it can be as difficult as you want it to be.

“Once you’ve learned to ring a bell on your own you can keep it as easy as you want or go onto really complicated things which even I don’t understand – despite ringing for donkey’s years.

“You don’t have to be a churchgoer to do bell ringing.

“Bell ringers are infamous for ringing for a service and then half of them walking out without staying for it.

“An awful lot of ringers do it just because they enjoy it but there are a good number who are churchgoers as well.”

The two youngest bell ringers at St Michael’s are Holly Macey and Warren Burgess.

Warren, who lives in Faversham, is 11 and began ringing in the summer after attending the St Michael’s summer club.

Holly, who attends The Westlands School in Sittingbourne, started two months ago.

The 12-year-old said: “It’s fun, keeps me going and lets me try my best.

“It can be hard work sometimes though. I’ve made new friends and I love ringing the bell and suggest you do it as it’s so much fun.”

Her mum, Janine, explained that she wished more children would get into bell ringing due to its friendly community.

She added: “It is good therapy for Holly. She is quite hyper and bell ringing gives her good structure.

“It helps her focus. Holly becomes very serious when she is doing it.”

Gill and Chris Rapley, 69, both began to learn bell ringing in the late 1970s at Minster Abbey when they lived in Eastchurch.

Now living in Bapchild, the couple stopped due to work and family commitments, however, after hearing that St Michael’s was appealing for bell ringers they got involved once more.

Gill, 67, said: “I like that bell ringing is physical and it requires concentration.

“But when you’re a ringer you all have equal status, there is no hierarchy and it is something anyone can do.”

If you’re keen to try your hand at bell ringing or want to get back into it, email David at davidridley@btinternet.com for more information.