Bell ringing times

The sound of Bow Bells can be heard every 15 minutes as the clock strikes the quarters of the hour. A toll is heard before daily services and the Angelus is rung morning and evening, as is a seasonal hymn. All this chiming is done automatically.

Change ringing (where each of the 12 bells swings through 360 degrees and is rung by an individual person) happens on feast days and other special occasions such as City events or weddings. At other times, many bands of experienced ringers from around the country come to practise on this large and famous ring of bells. A sound control system keeps the volume of practice peals to a very low level, while peals for special occasions ring out across the Square Mile and far beyond.

The schedule below is regularly updated. For further information please contact the Steeplkeeper, Simon Meyer.

*open ringing †half-muffled ringing

2013

May
2nd 18.45 - 20.30 Practice: University of London ringers
9th 12.20 - 13.05 Ringing: the Ascension Day*
11th 10.00 - 13.30 Peal attempt: Guildford Cathedral
14th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Ancient Society of College Youths
20th 17.30 - 21.00 Peal attempt: Ancient Society of College Youths
22nd 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Society of Royal Cumberland Youths
30th 12.20 - 13.05 Ringing: Corpus Christi*

June
4th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Ancient Society of College Youths
8th 10.00 - 11.30 Quarter Peal: Middlesex Association
16th 14.00 - 17.30 Peal attempt: Ancient Society of College Youths
17th 17.30 - 21.00 Peal attempt: Ancient Society of College Youths
24th 12.00 - 12.45 Ringing: Opening of the City of London Festival*

July
9th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Ancient Society of College Youths
15th 17.30 - 21.00 Peal attempt: Ancient Society of College Youths
24th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Society of Royal Cumberland Youths

August
3rd 16.15 - 17.00 Ringing before a Wedding Blessing*
13th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Ancient Society of College Youths
19th 17.30 - 21.00 Peal attempt: Ancient Society of College Youths

September
7th 14.30 - 18.00 Peal attempt: Leeds Minster
16th 17.30 - 21.00 Peal attempt: Ancient Society of College Youths
17th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Ancient Society of College Youths
29th 14.15 - 15.00 Quarter Peal: the Costermongers' Harvest Festival*

October
8th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Ancient Society of College Youths
21st 17.30 - 21.00 Peal attempt: Ancient Society of College Youths
29th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Ancient Society of College Youths

November
1st 12.20 - 13.05 Ringing: All Saints*
9th 09.30 - 13.00 Peal attempt: Ancient Society of College Youths*
[50th anniversary of the first peal on these bells; also the Lord Mayor's Show]
10th 10.30 - 19.00 10,000-change attempt: ASCY
12th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Ancient Society of College Youths
18th 17.30 - 21.00 Peal attempt: Ancient Society of College Youths
23rd 09.30 - 13.00 Peal attempt: Univeristy of London

December
17th 18.30 - 20.00 Practice: Ancient Society of College Youths