Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

St. Paul's Cathedral bells

Search

St. Paul's Cathedral bells

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 27th, 2014, 08:48 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
St. Paul's Cathedral bells

The last time I was in London I went to St. Paul's Cathedral for a "goodbye" visit on my last evening there, which was 7:00 p.m. on a Monday. There didn't seem to be anything going on in the cathedral at that time, but as I was standing at the bottom of the stairs, the bells suddenly started ringing and it went on for 15 minutes. I was thrilled and thunderstruck to get that "sendoff" before flying back to the U.S. the next day. I haven't been able to find out why the bells rang in that way on a Monday at that time of day. Their website says they do it three times every Sunday but this was a Monday evening. Does anyone know what this could be? It was bell ringing of the kind you hear on newscasts of royal weddings, coronations, etc. at Westminster Abbey. Full-out "tintinabulation of the bells, bells, bells." I was almost the only person in the area at that time, which made it even more special, and it was as if I had been given a parting gift.
travelingtish is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2014, 09:13 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
perhaps they were practising, travelingtish. i have a couple of friends who are bell-ringers [not at St Paul's but the principles are the same] and they have weekly practises at a time when there are no services and few people are likely to be around.

Monday night sounds like an ideal time.
annhig is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2014, 09:14 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do you remember the date? They record the full peals:

http://www.stpcgor.org.uk/viewPeals.asp

Or it could have been a practice.
Nonconformist is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2014, 09:23 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
great minds, nonconformist.
annhig is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2014, 09:10 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"bell ringing of the kind you hear on newscasts of royal weddings, coronations, etc. at Westminster Abbey. Full-out "tintinabulation of the bells, bells, bells.""

...is pretty much what happens at every practice, every week, usually around 7 or 8 in the evening, in every church in the land with a bellringing team (August holidays often excepted). Earlier rather than later in city centres (they practice after work, so in cathedrals often after Evensong): later in villages (after they get home from working in the nearest town)

There are about 7,500 such churches, so the sound is as much a part of most Tuesday or Wed evenings as it is of Sunday mornings.
flanneruk is offline  
Old Jul 28th, 2014, 06:33 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi TRAVELINGTISH,

<< Full-out "tintinabulation of the bells, bells, bells." >> With all respect to Poe, eh?

What a great memory as you departed London. When I departed for Heathrow in June, my driver went down the Mall and stopped briefly for me to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace again around noon.

I love St. Paul's too. Hopefully, you will return....
latedaytraveler is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
youngtom2910
Europe
14
Mar 29th, 2011 09:42 AM
Pegontheroad
Europe
5
Aug 11th, 2009 02:00 PM
Kellye
Europe
13
Apr 6th, 2007 06:53 PM
Dizzi
Europe
15
Feb 11th, 2004 12:15 AM
samm
Europe
4
Sep 15th, 2002 05:55 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -