Staplehurst Bellringers Report October 2025

NEWS FROM THE TOWER

Sadly, a very wet morning meant that the District Meeting on the morning of Saturday 13th September was not as well attended as we had hoped.  However, by the afternoon,n the weather had cleared, and around 25 ringers came to ring to welcome the cyclists and walkers participating in the Ride and Stride (yes, there were some hardy souls doing it!). The result was quite a sizeable donation to the Friends of Kent Churches.

Looking forward, on Saturday, 25^th October, we will be ringing for a 2 pm wedding.  Otherwise, we will be ringing for the Sunday church services and our normal Tuesday practice evening.  As ever, in the unlikely event of any additional ringing being arranged at short notice, it will be advised here on our website.

Roy Barclay

Tower Secretary

Visiting Us

All Saints Church Website (Opens in new tab)

Staplehurst Bellringers Report September 2025

NEWS FROM THE TOWER

Following a very quiet August, things get a little busier for our ringers in September, with most of us back from our summer holidays.  In addition to our normal Sunday Service ringing and our normal Tuesday evening practice, we will be ringing for two additional events, both on Saturday, 13^th September.

Firstly, in the morning, between 10 am and 12 noon, we will be hosting a practice for ringers from throughout the Maidstone District.  We hope to be providing refreshments in church for the ringers throughout the morning, so if you happen to be passing, do feel free to pop in for a cuppa and a chat with the ringers.

Later that day, between 5 pm and 6 pm, we will have visiting ringers welcoming the cyclists and walkers as they complete the Friends of Kent Churches Ride and Stride.  For more information about the Ride and Stride and how you can support it please see the article elsewhere in this issue of the Magazine.

Roy Barclay

Tower Secretary

Visiting Us

All Saints Church Website (Opens in new tab)

Staplehurst Bellringers Report August 2025

NEWS FROM THE TOWER

As reported in the July magazine the Kent Young Ringers used our bells to practise for the National Youth Ringing Contest in Birmingham. A valiant effort saw them finish 5th in their category in a contest which featured 35 teams in total. Nevertheless, they all had a good time according to one of the band who visited our practice evening a few days later. Meanwhile Adam Brady rang for the Ancient Society of College Youths in the prestigious National 12-bell Contest in Bristol on 28th June but they too couldn’t do quite enough to take the winner’s trophy.

With many ringers on holiday during August it looks like being a quiet month (no pun intended!) with just ringing for our regular Tuesday practice and for Sunday services.

If you think all this sounds rather fun why not pop up to Staplehurst tower during our weekly practices on Tuesday between 7.30 and 9.15pm and see what it’s all about? You could end up with a sociable new hobby that you had never dreamed of.

Roy Barclay

Tower Secretary

Visiting Us

All Saints Church Website (Opens in new tab)

Staplehurst Bellringers Report July 2025

NEWS FROM THE TOWER

We are now in high summer, a time when many ringers go on outings to other areas to ring on bells often very different from their own. Staplehurst ringers are no exception and on Saturday 28th June, together with ringers from Marden, we enjoyed a day out in North Kent ringing at six towers, including the newly restored and augmented bells at Faversham. As is traditional for bell ringers we enjoyed an excellent lunch at the (strangely-named) Gunpowder Mill pub in Faversham. Our thanks to Chris Bassett for organising this year’s outing.

One of our ringers was unable to join us on the outing for a very good reason. Adam Brady was ringing in the National 12-bell Competition that day at St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol. This prestigious event features some of the best bell ringers in the country and we will let you know in next month’s issue how his band fared.

Just as we have an outing to other towers, ringers from elsewhere occasionally visit us as part of their summer outing. On Saturday 19th July we will be pleased to welcome a band from Wittersham and Tenterden, who will be ringing our bells from 3.45 – 4.30pm.

If you think all this sounds rather fun why not pop up to Staplehurst tower during our weekly practices on Tuesday between 7.30 – 9.15pm and see what it’s all about? You could end up with a sociable new hobby that you had never dreamed of.

Roy Barclay

Tower Secretary

Visiting Us

All Saints Church Website (Opens in new tab)