<p>Ive been walking back to Bancroft at 6:00pm and noticed that the church bells are always playing a hymn at this time. Does anyone know if theres a backstory behind this? We were never taught this during plebe summer or anything, just wondering if some of the studious forum academy experts know anything about this.</p>
<p>Here’s how to break the code with the clock.</p>
<p>The clock will chime every 15 minutes.</p>
<p>Every hour, there will be an extended chime, followed by a number of “gong” hits. The number of hits is the amount of hours after 12PM.</p>
<p>For example, at 1800 you would hear 6 gongs, at 2300, you would hear 11, at 1300, you would hear 1.</p>
<p>Is he asking about the “Big Ben” chime? [Technically known as the Westminister Quarters] I thought he was referring to an an actual “hymn” (a song or ode in praise or honor of god) that was played on the “Chapel” bells. [You did mean the “chapel” bells as opposed to some miscellaneous church bells?]</p>
<p>The Westminister Quarters are actually a 20-chime sequence. Notice that at a quarter-past the hour, four tones play; at half-past, I think, 12 chimes are played; at three-quarters past the hour, 4 chimes are played and at the hour the full sequence is played [I guess the “hymn” referred to in the question.] followed by the “gong” representing the hour of the day.</p>
<p>Ahhh. . . the things you can learn on CC</p>
<p>Actually I am referring to actual hymns. I know about the chimes that do the 15 minute thing and hour gong diddy. Ive heard songs like “I’ll fly away” as well as “Just as I am”
It’s definitely coming from the church bell tower and since its right before evening formation, nobody is usually outside except for a few officers going home. I should ask one of the chaps sometime.</p>
<p>Some carillons are capable of playing hymns. The bells in the Tower at the Univ. of Texas regularly plays songs according to the season. Very probable that chapel bells can play songs.</p>
<p>Chuch bells have a fairly long history of use in such capacities as calling for worship, signalling times of prayer, telling the time, warning of danger, etc. The reason is pretty straightforward: Nobody had watches, etc., back in the days when the practice of church bell ringing was first popularized.</p>
<p>It is really not all that common to hear church bells ringing at the top of every hour unless the church doubles as a type of civic center (as in many cities designed with a central square occupied by a church). Perhaps more common today in that capacity is the university campanile or town hall clock tower or other such structure. </p>
<p>At any rate, concerning church bells: Paulinus, bishop of Nola, a town of Campania, in Italy supposedly introduced the ringing of bells in a Christian chuch as early as the 400s. In 604, the use of bells in churches was sanctioned by Pope Sabinian, and a ceremony for blessing them was established a little later. ([I-link-2.net</a> - i link 2 Resources and Information.This website is for sale!](<a href=“http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/church_bells.htm]I-link-2.net”>http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/church_bells.htm)) It should be said that the bells were not rung on the hour in these cases. They were used strictly for religious purposes. The first church tower erected expressly for bells was supposedly that erected by Pope Stephen II (752-757) in Rome. ([Bring</a> Back the Bells](<a href=“http://www.adoremus.org/1001bells.html]Bring”>http://www.adoremus.org/1001bells.html))</p>
<p>The most common use for church bells historically were for calling the faithful to worship. For example, bells are rung to mark the times for the Angelus (a mostly Cathoilic practice) at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. Also, bells have historically been rung to mark particular times during the weekly or daily services. (Most commonly before a service or mass, marking a funeral or wedding, marking times of prayer)</p>
<p>To sum up, the most common times to hear a church bell ringing are before services and daily at around 6 a.m., around noon and around 6 p.m. Some churches will sound the bells to mark times of prayer (up to ten times a day). The schedule varies for each church, but here’s one example:
6:00 am – Vigils (and Angelus)
7:15 am – Lauds (Morning Prayer)
7:45 am – Breakfast
11:45 am – Mass
12:20 pm – Lunch
1:05 pm – Daytime Prayer
5:15 pm – Vespers (Evening Prayer)
5:45 pm – .Dinner
7:15 pm – Compline (Night Prayer)</p>
<p>You can see how medieval townspeople would have relied on church bells to schedule their days. </p>
<p>I would venture to say that if you hear bells marking the hour, they are likely not coming from a church, but from a “secular” building. If they are coming from a church, you live near an unusual church.</p>
<p>delta, without answering the question, you’ve taught me more in one post than a lifetime of listening to them has revealed. Some of your info rings a bell. Very interesting and informative! Dare I say …thanks for chiming in! :eek: :rolleyes: 
</p>
<p>Actually the Naval Hymm has been heard ringing from the Naval Chapel, amongst other familiar hyms. Interestingly enough, I have never heard “Blue and Gold” chime out. Except from my phone!</p>