The chimes they are a-changing – Frank McNally on the joys of listening to church bells at night

Christ Church Cathedral: sleepless nights in central Dublin are often accompanied by the sound of cathedral bells floating on the breeze. Photograph: Getty Images

Yes, but which hour, my restless mind will ask, even as I tell it to shut up and go back to sleep. Then, 15 minutes later, with sleep still elusive, the bells will return to embellish the theme, this time building it up into an eight-note motif: “B, D#, C#, F#/B, C#, D#, B”.

The best-known version is the “Westminster Quarters” , which are really the Cambridge Quarters, having been first composed for a university church in that city in 1793. The bronze memorial was created by the great sculptor and letter-cutter Michael Biggs . And I’m assuming its current location, over a basement window at street level, partly obscured by railings, is the same one he complained about in a letter to this newspaper on October 6th, 1959.

Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Sermon on the Mounts — Frank McNally on a biblical week in CheltenhamThe End is Nigh Handicap Hurdle
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

– Frank McNally on an unusual English tribute to the Irish writer Melesina TrenchAs a writer, she certainly had sharp talons
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

– Frank McNally on the importance of food in diary writingThis column was accidentally dragged into the transatlantic debate on whether UFOs exist
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

– Frank McNally on the Irish birth of Radio Caroline, 60 years agoCaroline proved an instant success with listeners
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

– Frank McNally on being traumatised by the increasing youth of taoisighThere was a time when ruling elders really were elderly
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

– Frank McNally on a gloomy trend in half a century of pop musicA general drift toward lyrical melancholy
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »