It is difficult to overestimate the importance of The Ringing World to ringers, both as a means of disseminating information and as a forum for discussion. It is arguable that such contact has stimulated the development of change ringing, both in the range and difficulty of methods and in the sheer number of peals that are now rung. How difficult then to imagine when there was no periodical devoted to ringing and when ordinary newspapers were the means of communication.

In the eighteenth century much information on peals and other ringing events was published in local newspapers. On occasion details were placed in newspapers further afield so advertising what had been achieved. In the nineteenth century, details published in sporting newspapers such as Bell's Life in London or The Era reached a wider public, since the papers, although based in London, had a wider distribution.

A rather different means of communication started on 31 December 1870, with the publication of the first issue of the weekly general church paper Church Bells. It was made clear from the start that there would be a regular column devoted to bells and bellringing, the editor of the column being the Rev H T Ellacombe. Over a period of time the column built up and not only restoration and augmentations of bells but also peals and other ringing performances were published, as well as instructional material and historical articles. Every opportunity was taken to press the case for belfry reform and to campaign against prize ringing.

With the stimulus of regular reporting, the column became a page, but a body of opinion came about that considered that there was a need for a paper that reported ringing alone. It was decided to consult Jasper Snowdon, who gave his support to the venture, which resulted in the setting up of The Bell News and Ringers' Record (usually referred to as Bell News). The editor was Harvey Reeves, and the first (monthly) issue was published on 1 February 1881. This was advertised by a flyer, a copy of which is reproduced below. Such was the success that it became a weekly paper on 8 April 1882 and had a vitality such that the early issues make compulsive reading. By the middle 1890s that vitality had diminished somewhat, and an attempt was made to start another weekly paper for ringers. This was entitled Campanology and first appeared on 16 September 1896. The proprietor and editor was William Bedwell and the office was at 221 High Street, Lewisham. Essentially the same as Bell News, it was laid out more as a magazine. In the introductory remarks it was stated that "... the necessity of a bright and cheerful journal ... has for years past been plainly manifest.". In the pages of Bell News there is no mention of its competitor, but it is evident that this new venture affected its circulation, for a new flyer was issued, a copy of which is also printed below. This is undated, but from internal evidence it dates from February 1897 or soon after, and presumably was issued before the demise of Campanology, the 26th and last issue of which appeared on 10 March 1897. It had paid the penalty of being too similar to Bell News.

The threat of a rival changed nothing in the format and content of Bell News, and another attempt was made to start an alternative ringers' paper ten years later. A circular was sent out late in 1906 and the first issue of The Bellringer appeared on 5 January 1907, costing 1d. The editor was William C Hunt, and a major contributor was William Willson of Leicester, who wrote under the pen-name 'Jingle' and who had previously contributed a regular column to Bell News under the same pen-name. The opening editorial, without actually naming Bell News, stated that a paper should be published on time, inferring that Bell News was regularly published late, thus appearing after meetings, notices of which had appeared in its pages. It also said that it stood for progress, and lamented the demise of Campanology from lack of support, through a mistaken sense of sympathy to the old. However, despite its brighter approach, The Bellringer also evidently suffered from lack of support. Five weekly issues appeared, and then it was admitted that the money that had been set aside to start the paper was rapidly vanishing. As a result the paper became monthly from 1 March at a cost of 3½d. The ninth and last issue was dated 1 June 1907 and on the front was an apology for its late appearance. It was announced that it would recommence as a weekly paper on 29 June at a cost of 2d, but no more issues appeared and thus it went the way of Campanology.

However, it was only a matter of time before a successful rival to Bell News was launched as the decline in the standard and interest of Bell News continued, not helped by Harvey Reeves' breakdown in health. The first issue of The Ringing World appeared on 24 March 1911, producing the breath of fresh air that was needed. Sadly, Harvey Reeves died on 28 March 1911 after having been bedridden for nearly a year, and so would have seen or heard of the first issue of the paper that would eventually cause the closure of Bell News. His obituary was written by William Willson. The objective of The Ringing World, was expressed in his first editorial by John S Goldsmith, where it is stated that '... there is a demand for a journal which shall record faithfully and promptly the doings of those engaged in the pursuit of bell-ringing.' Goldsmith recognised the service that had been done in the past by other journalistic enterprises, but stated that '... there never was a time when ringers generally felt that their requirements were more inadequately met than they are today, ...'. The success of the newspaper showed that his assessment of the situation was correct. Bell News continued to be published for several years, and it has been said that it had been supported financially by Sir A P Heywood. What proved to be the final issue appeared on 25 December 1915, but this contained no hint that it was to be the last. No comment on the passing of Bell News appeared in the pages of The Ringing World.