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.

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.

Do you remember the date? They record the full peals:

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

Or it could have been a practice.

great minds, nonconformist.

"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.

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....