This year there are several of the nation’s cathedrals who for various reasons will sadly be unable to ring. However, they have all assured the campaign that they will be celebrating St. George’s day. Their flags will be flying, the streets will be filled with parades, and their services will be full to flowing as their congregations gather to salute their Patron Saint.

High on a hill overlooking the Cinque Ports sits St. George’s Church in Brede. The name comes from old English meaning ‘breadth’ which refers to the river which in turn takes its name from the village. The six bells will be ringing out and there will be parades followed by a huge supper all in celebration of England’s Patron Saint.

There is a town in Northern Somerset that was mentioned in the Doomsday Book that takes the name of Eastern in Gordano. It is here, in the church dedicated to St. George, that they intend to ring out their 6 bells for a whole peal to celebrate the day. What an incredible feat and so hats off to their wonderful ringers and we wish them good luck for the day.

This long established College, with its foundation in 1264, has in the past produced many Nobel Prize winners and literary giants. Its excellence continues and so too its Chapel and Choir. The College has 8 bells and they will be ringing out between 13.45 and 14.30 and joining all those other towers across the country to celebrate St. George.

April 23rd is in the middle of vacation for students but these London University ringers will be giving up their time for the honour of ringing out from St. Paul’s to celebrate St. George’s Day. The society was formed in 1945 and usually practices at St. Olav’s near Tower Hill but they will have a very different experience at St. Paul’s. There are four bells in the South West tower where ‘Great Paul’ hangs weighing in at 16 and half tons. However they will instead be ringing out from the North West tower which has 13 magnificent bells. We wish them good luck.

Photographed by Marc Slowey – @Slowey25

There is so much to say in praise of St. Paul’s but it can all be encapsulated in the fact it is England’s favourite Cathedral. What a tremendous support to the campaign in that it will be ringing out with great gusto on April 23rd helping us all celebrate St. George.

Many Tower Captains have been informing us that whilst their towers are under repair, or their bells being restored, they are unable to ring this year. HOWEVER, they have all declared an interest for next year and want to enlist.

The South Downs recently declared a National Park will have its own Cathedral ringing out for England’s patron saint. Chichester Cathedral with its magnificent spire rising up and seen from miles around will ring its 8 bells whose sounds will float across not only land but out to sea reminding sailors of how special a day it is.

All the churches across the country have been contacted and the tower captains are signing up. Even though there are some churches that sadly have no bells they will nevertheless be celebrating in one form or another. And then there are those with only one bell, but even they will be ringing not wanting to be left out.

The Dean of Southwell Minster in the heart of Nottinghamshire will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of British Citizenship whilst his band of ringers will be striking the Minster’s wonderful 13 bells in celebration of St. George.