pealing

Pealing refers to the ringing of bells, especially in a loud, resonant and sustained manner. The term can describe both the act of ringing and the resulting sound, most often associated with church towers, carillons, and other bell instruments. A peal of bells commonly signals occasions such as services, weddings, or public celebrations.

The word derives from Middle English and has been used since the medieval period to denote a loud, prolonged ringing. The expression “peal of bells” is well attested in literature and in church contexts, where the sound is both musical and ceremonial.

In change ringing, a form of bell ringing developed in England, a peal has a technical meaning: a long, non-repeating sequence of changes rung on the same set of bells. A true peal typically lasts several hours and comprises thousands of changes, performed by a steady group of ringers. Shorter performances on the same bells are called touches or quarter-peals, depending on local usage.

Beyond change ringing, pealing also describes the audible result of bells being struck in sequence, as heard from cathedral towers, town churches, and carillons. The sound is often bright and complex, influenced by the number and size of bells and by the striking method. In literature and culture, the term “pealing” is used metaphorically to convey festivity, solemnity, or the passage of time through ringing bells.