Ancient Society of College Youths

The Ancient Society of College Youths is a bell-ringing society, though little is known for certain of its history. It was founded in 1637, and appears to have been based at first at St Martin Vintry, in the City of London, and to have taken its name from the college founded in the fifteenth century in College Hill nearby.

It is thought to have been based subsequently at St Bride Fleet Street, at St Martin in the Fields (from 1735), at St Saviour Southwark (from 1849) and at St Paul's Cathedral (from 1878), though it rang peals throughout London and the home counties.

The Society appears to have drawn its members from the ranks of the aristocracy and well-to-do professional classes. This much is apparent from the "Name books" or registers of members (Ms 21656).