Chimes

Clock Chimes

Clock chimes are very popular on Long Case and Grandfather clocks and this page describes the history behind them.

 Westminster Chimes

The world's most famous chimes are the Westminster.  Nearly everyone associates the Westminster chimes with the Victoria Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament in London.  Originally, however, they were fitted to the clock of the University Church, St Mary's the Great, in Cambridge, England.  The words to this beautiful chime come from Handel's symphony, "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" and could be our daily prayer:

"Lord through this hour,
Be Thou our guide
So, by Thy power
No foot shall slide."

 Saint Michaels

While many chime clockmakers adopted the classic Westminster as a chime tone, another equally beautiful clock chime has its origins in the New World.  A little known church in South Carolina became the home of bells that were originally cast in England in the 1760s.  The bells were hung in the steeple of Saint Michaels Church in the city of Charleston, South Carolina.

During the Revolutionary War, the British Army captured Charleston.  Along with other spoils of war, the British removed the bells from the church and sent them back to England.  When the hostilities ended, arrangements were made to send the bells back to Saint Michaels.  In the early 1820s cracks were found in the bells, and once again found their way back to London to be remade.

During the American Civil War, there was an attempt to keep the bells out of the hands of the Union Army.  In spite of being hidden away in Columbia, South Carolina, the fortunes of war were not kind to the bells of Saint Michaels.  During the Union invasion of Columbia, the armies of General Sherman destroyed the bells.  Since the original molds still resided in England, the bells were once again recast and the new set sent back to Charleston.  In 1867, the bells were hung in the church where they have been to this day.

  Whittington

The origins of the Whittington chime are thought to be much older than the popular Westminster chime.  Located in the Cheapside area of London, the Church of Saint Mary Le Bow has been home to the bells since 1392.

Ave Maria

The chiming of Ave Maria follows that melody of this beautiful song.  Written by the classical composer Franz Schubert as part of a larger work, the song has long been a favorite of church choirs and operatic performers for many years and is one the most recognisable and beloved melodies in the world.