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As the calendar page flips to 1st January, a strange and wonderful fever grips us all. We find ourselves standing on the precipice of a clean slate, gazing into the shiny, promising abyss of a brand-new year. It is the annual festival of the New Year's Resolution! This tradition, which arguably dates back to ancient Babylonian promises to return borrowed farming equipment, is our collective, optimistic agreement that this year, we are finally going to get it right. The Great

The use of the circular, evergreen wreath predates Christmas by thousands of years, with its origins found in several ancient and seasonal traditions: Ancient Greece and Rome: Wreaths, often made of laurel or olive branches, were known as "coronas." They were primarily worn as crowns to symbolise victory, honour, power, and status - crowned on victorious athletes, warriors, and statesmen. The custom of hanging wreaths on doors as a sign of victory or for good health on New Ye

Every year in November, as the seasons turn and the harvest ends, we pause to observe Remembrance Day  (or Armistice Day). This tradition, marked by the simple, powerful sight of the red poppy, is a sacred moment that unites our community in solemn reflection. In our rural parishes, where history runs deep, this act of commemoration—focused on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month —holds a special resonance. Why We Gather in Our Church The primary reason we gather i

The children of Stelling Minnis school celebrated their Harvest Festival at St Marys on Wednesday 8 th  October.   The children had...

Among the treasures of St Mary’s, Stelling Minnis, few are as evocative as its three medieval bells. Dating from the 14th and 15th...

When you step into the churchyard at St Mary’s, Stelling Minnis, you’re greeted not only by the medieval stonework of the church but also...

St Marys Church Stelling has seen many changes in recent weeks - especially inside the church. One of these changes is that the Handprint...

Does it seem like 25 years since the Year 2k ? I can still remember all the hype and build-up to the Millenium. Of course those who are...

The East Kent connections with the Elgar Family date back to at least the 18th century. The great, great, great Grandfather of the...