There is evidence in Australia, America and Canada that handbell ringers from the UK visited these countries in the latter part of the 19th century to wide acclaim. From these early concert tours arose an interest in tune ringing and in the early part of the 20th century handbell teams (or choirs) were in evidence in both America and Australia.
It was not until 1984 that the first International Symposium was convened in the USA with teams from America, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia and the UK.
Please click on a flag to visit the guild site for that country
By 1990, it was agreed that an International Handbell Committee constituted from the head of each Guild should meet at each Symposium to promote communication on handbell ringing across the countries.
Every two years, ringers from around the world meet at a venue in one of the countries which make up the International Handbell Committee, to promote the unity which we all share from tune ringing on handbells.
