St PETER’S Church bell ringers in Petersfield rang out the bells to celebrate the historic visit by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby.

The Archbishop attended the church’s Sunday choral evensong service to conclude a three-day tour of the Diocese of Portsmouth.

St Peter’s Church bell ringers who rang at the Monday evening practice and dedicated their ringing for the Archbishop’s visit. From left to right: Melanie Spiller, Fiona Oakley, Katherine Wilkins, Fiona Harvey, Andrew Spiller, John Downham, Sally Wedley and Duncan Wilkins PHOTO: CAROLINE M WELSH

And prior to the service, he was conducted to the bell tower door by the Rev Canon Will Hughes, vicar of St Peter’s, to listen to the bells.

A former tenth century Archbishop of Canterbury, St Dunstan, is the patron saint of bell ringers.

St Peter’s Church bell ringers who rang on the Sunday morning and dedicated their ringing for the Archbishop’s visit. Left to right: Katherine Wilkins, Phil Ringrose, Caroline M Welsh, Jason Wedley, Geoff Stone, Jacqueline Downham and John Downham. Sue Walker also rang but is not in the photograph PHOTO: CAROLINE M WELSH

And Justin Welby is not the first visit by an Archbishop to St Peter’s either, as Desmond Tutu, the South African Archbishop and winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his opposition to apartheid in South Africa, came to the church in 1988.

Peals were also dedicated to the Archbishop on Monday evening and Sunday morning.