Twenty years ago, on 2nd June 2002, the bells of All Saints’ church Staplehurst, rang a quarter peal in celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee. This was in celebration of 50 years since the Queen’s accession to the throne.

The 19th of May is a special day for Bell Ringers, for it is the feast day of Saint Dunstan, patron saint of bell ringing! It is thought that Saint Dunstan was born in the village of Baltonsborough in Somerset, a few miles to the south of Glastonbury, in the year 909

Congratulations to Staplehurst ringer Sallyann Barclay who recently celebrated 50 years’ membership of the Kent County Association of Change Ringers. Sallyann learnt to ring at Headcom before moving to Staplehurst when she got married in 1986.

It is the custom at most churches not to ring bells during Holy Week and for many years we have followed this tradition. However, this year the ringers feel that hearing the bells will help to give people reassurance about coming out of the pandemic and the situation in