The Bells

Made famous as ‘the Bells of Old Bailey’ (which is across the road) in the nursery rhyme, ‘Oranges and Lemons’, Holy Sepulchre’s 150-foot-high bell tower, containing a ring of 12 bells, is one of the most significant in the country.

Holy Sepulchre is recorded as having bells since 1537 and various rings of bells have been maintained in the tower since then. Despite losing its bells to the Great Fire of London in 1666, the first ever performance of a ‘peal’ on bells is claimed to have been rung at Holy Sepulchre in 1690. Most recently, in 1984, a ring of 10 bells, some of which dated back to 1739, were restored and augmented to 12 to form the church’s current bells.

Assistance with the raising of funds and voluntary labour for the restoration was provided by the Ancient Society of College Youths, a premier change ringing society in the City of London, which now calls Holy Sepulchre one of its home towers. Founded in 1637, the Society has a national and international membership that promotes excellence in ringing around the world.

For more information about Holy Sepulchre’s bells and to enquire about ringing at Holy Sepulchre, please contact the Society’s Tower Secretary for Holy Sepulchre on the link below. For more information about the history of the bells, please see Love’s Guide to the Bells of the City of London, link below. For more information about the Ancient Society of College Youths, please see the Ancient Society of College Youths’ website on the link below.