Church bells around the country have rung for an hour to pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen. The Church of England sent out guidance to parish churches, chapels and cathedrals around the country encouraging them to toll their bells or open for prayer following the announcement from Buckingham palace. A number of historical landmarks, including Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral in London and Windsor Castle, rung their bells today (9 September) from 12.00pm to 13.00pm - specifically with muffles in order to create a more solemn sound. Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester Cathedrals were amidst those paying their respects by sounding their bells, as well as Crathie Kirk, near the Balmoral estate in Scotland - in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Images show the bells St Cuthbert Church, at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, being rung to pay respects and proclaim the new King. Most of the country's 16,000 churches have not rung bells muffled since the death of the Monarch's father in 1952. The details are contained in Operation London Bridge, the lengthy plan for the days following the Monarch's passing. The plan, named 'Operation Muffle', saw leatherworkers inundated with orders as churches rush to ensure they were ready for the sad day, as many found their leather mufflers had rotten in recent years, or gone missing. Full muffles are designed to dampen the sound of the bell and are reserved exclusively for the Monarch's death. They had been stored in church towers for decades and had rotted away, but thankfully the churches were given enough time to order new ones - and Britain's leatherworking industry was inundated with orders. There will be a 12-day mourning period for the Queen in the UK and the Prime Minister and senior ministers will attend a public service of remembrance at St Paul’s in central London today. Flags are being flown at half-mast and books of condolence have been opened for people to pay their respects. As the Queen died in Balmoral, her body will lie in Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, before being carried up the Royal Mile to St. Giles’s Cathedral.