The open day was a chance for the public to explore the bell tower and discover the art of being a bell-ringer, First Church Society of Ringers spokesman David Hockley said.
‘‘This is a great thing to volunteer to do. It is very easy and a lot of fun.''
The church held a bell-ringer open day every few years, and it was a chance to attract new people, he said.
‘‘We have sourced most of our bell-ringers from open days, so they have been successful for us.''
Mr Hockley started bellringing at an Anglican church in Essex, England when he was 10. He was in his 58th year as a bellringer and did not plan to stop.
‘‘It is a very special role being a bell-ringer, and it is extra special being a bell-ringer at First Church.
‘‘This is the only Presbyterian Church in the southern hemisphere to have ringing bells, so the people of Dunedin are very fortunate.''
First Church's eight bells were cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, and hung in 1975.
The heaviest bell with the deepest note is called the tenor, and weighed 350kg.
‘‘There is no hierarchy with bell-ringing - everyone just grabs the nearest bell and rings it.
‘‘But we always like ringing the bells with eight people, as that gives us the maximum number of combinations we can play.''
The society had only 14 members, so more volunteers were needed, Mr Hockley said.
Slade Miller (13), a Logan Park High School pupil, began bell-ringing a year ago and recommended it to other young people.
‘‘It is a lot of fun. I think it is a cool thing to do.''
Anyone interested in becoming a bell-ringer could attend a practice at First Church on Thursday from 7.30pm to 9pm.
Saturday's open day included a church fair, with proceeds going towards maintaining First Church and the grounds.
