
St Stephen’s Bellringers win the Canterbury District Striking Competition!
The Canterbury District Striking Competition which took place at Monkton Church on Saturday 14th May 2022 (The first one since 2019 due to ravages of the pandemic). 7 teams entered and the St Stephen’s Sunday Quarter Peal Band won, just pipping our friendly neighbours (St Dunstan’s Church) by 2.50 points.
Whilst called the Canterbury District, it is not just the immediate Canterbury area. This Bellringing District stretches as far as Lynsted and Teynham, Lyminge, Dover, Whitstable and the whole Thanet area.
One of the rules of the competition is that entrants must be regular Sunday service ringers. St Stephen’s Band consisted of ringers from other towers who help Jane ring for a Sunday service each Sunday by ringing a quarter peal either Sunday morning one week and Sunday evening another week. Without their help the faithful would not be called to service, there would be no public announcement that the church is there and open for worship, the bells would be silent. The observant may recognise the Presenter of the cup as Elizabeth, Don and Ruth Nibletts daughter who learnt to ring at St Stephen’s many years ago. Elizabeth and her husband were the judges – but they do not know the teams until the end of the competition as the judges are hidden away and out of sight.
Congratulations to them all!
