St. Paul's Cathedral bells
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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.
#2
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.
Monday night sounds like an ideal time.
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Do you remember the date? They record the full peals:
http://www.stpcgor.org.uk/viewPeals.asp
Or it could have been a practice.
http://www.stpcgor.org.uk/viewPeals.asp
Or it could have been a practice.
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"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.
...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.
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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....
<< 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....
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