The bells of St Paul's ring out for London Festival of Bells 2021

St Paul's joined many City of London churches to ring their bells for the London Festival of the Bells on Saturday 31 July 2021.

The festivities began with Great Paul, the largest church bell in the British Isles, being hand rung alone at 9.20am.
Later in the day the bell was rung as was intended when it was installed in 1881, a sound which has not been heard in decades. Firstly Great Paul rang alone, then after fifteen minutes the bells in the north west tower joined in and all rang together until Great Paul gradually faded out.

Great Paul is the largest bell ever cast in the UK and the largest church bell in the British Isles. Its total weight is 16.7 tons. In the UK it is exceeded in weight only by the Olympic Bell, cast in the Netherlands for the 2012 London Games, which is currently not hung for ringing.

Find out more about the Bells of St Paul's at www.stpauls.co.uk/worship-music/music/the-organs-and-bells

Video by Jemma Meyer