Staplehurst Bell Ringers

NEWS FROM THE TOWER

As well as ringing for Sunday Services our bells are occasionally rung for other reasons.  One such occasion was on Thursday 8^th May when we rang to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of VE day.  Appropriately we rang during the lighting of the beacon on Surrenden Field, a symbol of hope and peace for the future.

Sometimes even the Services we ring for are at times other than Sunday. Ascension Day always falls on Thursday (it being 40 days after Easter) and this year it included an act of thanksgiving for the restoration of the tower.  Representatives of those involved in the project joined the Rector on the tower roof for a blessing before the service.  We were not, of course, ringing the bells while they were up there!

On 18^th May we celebrated Bell Sunday, a day where the contribution of bells and bellringers to the life of the Church is recognised. Our ringers took an active part in the Morning Communion Service, and it was particularly pleasing to hear Florence, one of our younger ringers, read the epistle. Roy Barclay led the prayers, Daniel Brady played the organ and, in place of the sermon, Steve Bassett gave an interesting talk on bell ringing. Several others of our ringers also attended the service.

Looking forward, on Sunday 8^th June we will be ringing for the 3pm Confirmation Service so the bells will, exceptionally, be rung both morning and afternoon on that day.

Finally on Saturday 28^th June from 1.30 – 4.30pm the Kent Young Ringers will be using our bells to practise for their national youth ringing competition.  We wish them luck and will let you know next month how they got on.

Roy Barclay

Tower Secretary

Visiting Us

All Saints Church Website (Opens in new tab)

NEWS FROM THE TOWER

Following several fairly quiet months May looks to be much busier for the Staplehurst ringers.  We start on Thursday 8^th May when, along with other churches throughout the country, we will be ringing to mark the 80^th anniversary of VE Day.  We hope to be able to ring for the 2.45pm commemoration service (although because it is during the working day and in term time this may not be possible) and again from approximately 8 – 9pm for the lighting of the beacon on Surrenden Field.

On Saturday 10^th May we will be holding a ringers’ training day, but this will utilise the simulator so there will be no sound outside the church. Then on May 18^th we will be celebrating the annual Bell Sunday – a day where the contribution of bells and bellringers to the life of the Church is recognised.  We hope that some of our ringers will be involved in the service, but details have yet to be decided.  Finally on Thursday 29^th May we will be ringing for the 6.30pm Ascension Day Service which also includes a thanksgiving for completion of the restoration work on the tower, something for which our ringers are particularly grateful.  

Other than this we will be ringing for the usual Sunday Services and our normal Tuesday practice. We always try to give notice in the Magazine of any additional ringing, but because of copy deadlines this is not always possible when ringing is arranged at short notice.

Finally, the peal on Saturday 12^th April to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Sue Bassett learning to ring was successfully accomplished, and the band also included five other Staplehurst ringers.  Thank you Sue for all you have done, and continue to do, for bell ringing at Staplehurst.

Roy Barclay

Tower Secretary

Visiting Us

All Saints Church Website (Opens in new tab)

NEWS FROM THE TOWER

As regular readers of this column will know, we place great importance on the training of new ringers, both for our own tower and the wider ringing community. To this end we hosted two very well-supported training courses in March, both organised by Sue Bassett.

Over the years, Sue has taught many people to ring at Staplehurst, and she is also County Training Officer for the whole of Kent. This year marks 50 years since she herself learnt to ring, and she is planning to celebrate this landmark by ringing a peal on Staplehurst bells on Saturday, 12th April. The peal will commence at around 10 am and there will be continuous ringing until around 1.15 pm.

Other than this, no additional ringing is scheduled for April. We have no visiting bands of ringers and there are no weddings on the calendar, so we will only be ringing for the usual Sunday Services and our Tuesday practice from 7.30 pm – 9.15 pm. As ever, you can find up-to-date details at https://bells.allsaintsstaplehurst.co.uk/

Finally, the Staplehurst ringers wish everyone a very Happy Easter.

Roy Barclay

Tower Secretary

Visiting Us

All Saints Church Website (Opens in new tab)

NEWS FROM THE TOWER

Following a quiet start to the new year, activity in the tower will be picking up during March.  We start on Saturday 1^st with an all-day training course from 9am – 5pm but fear not, ringing will be on our simulator which means the sound will be heard inside the tower but not outside.  We also have a similar event on Saturday 29^th March.  Then on 5^th March we hope to be ringing for the 8pm Ash Wednesday Service. 

At the Morning Service on Mothering Sunday 30^th March we will also be ringing during the “clipping” of the church. This is a tradition, thought to be unique to Staplehurst, where the congregation encircle the church building as if to embrace mother church.  If anyone would like to know more about the history of this event I am sure the Rector would be happy to enlighten you. Otherwise we will be ringing for the usual Sunday Services and on our usual Tuesday Practice night.

We are always happy to welcome new ringers.  If you would like to find out more please contact me on 01580 890247 or just drop in on our Tuesday Practice Night between 7.30 – 9.15pm.

Roy Barclay

Tower Secretary

Visiting Us

All Saints Church Website (Opens in new tab)