Bells

The largest peal of bells in the north calls you

Uplifting sound that touches the soul. Majestic sonority and moments of peace and prayer. For the heart and spirit. A call to you.

In this SEction

Zur Geschichte

Das Geläut nach dem Wiederaufbau

Der Bombenangriff auf Lübeck in der Palmsonntagnacht 1942 zerstörte auch das siebenstimmige Geläut der Marienkirche, das sich im Südturm befand. Die größte und die drittgrößte Glocken liegen seitdem zerborsten auf dem Boden der Südturm-Kapelle (Gedenk-Kapelle). Sie sind bis heute und mehr denn je ein ausdrucksstarkes Mahnmal für Frieden und Versöhnung. Die Bruchstücke der übrigen fünf Glocken wurden gesammelt.

Nach dem Krieg erhielt St. Marien drei Glocken aus Danzig, zwei aus St. Johannis und eine aus St. Marien. Diese Glocken waren nicht zu Kriegszwecken eingeschmolzen worden, sondern hatten im Glockenlager (sogenannter "Glockenfriedhof") in Hamburg-Harburg alle Wirrnisse der damaligen Zeit unversehrt überstanden. Dazu kam dann im Jahre 1951 zur 700-Jahrfeier der Marienkirche, bei der der damalige Bundeskanzler Konrad Adenauer anwesend war, die neue große Pulsglocke, die aus den gesammelten Bruchstücken der fünf vollkommen zerstörten alten Glocken der Kirche in der Glockengießerei F. W. Schilling in Heidelberg neu gegossen wurde. Dieser Guß wurde von der Bundesrepublik Deutschland finanziert. Die vier Glocken wurden im Norderturm der Marienkirche an gekröpften Stahljochen in einem stählernen Glockenstuhl aufgehängt.

Es war klar, dass dieses vierstimmige Geläut der Bedeutung der Marienkirche als „Mutterkirche der Backsteingotik“ auf Dauer nicht entsprach. So wurden im Jahre 1985 drei neue Glocken, die auf die Pulsglocke abgestimmt sind, von der Glockengießerei Bachert in Bad Friedrichshall gegossen. Die drei, „Friedensglocken“ gennant, wurde ebenfalls in in einen Stahlglockenstuhl an gekröpften Stahljochen aufgehängt.

Das nunmehr siebenstimmige Geläut konnte klanglich dennoch nicht überzeugen. So wurden die beiden Stahlglockenstühle im Jahre 2005 durch einen Holzglockenstuhl ersetzt. Die Glocken erhielten hölzerne Joche und neue Klöppel. Diese Maßnahme bewirkte eine eindrucksvolle Klangverbesserung.

Im Jahre 2019 wurde das Mariengeläut, in dem die tiefen Klänge dominieren, um zwei kleinere Glocken, die die Glockengießerei Rincker im hessischen Ort Sinn gegossen hat, erweitert, um die Klangfülle nach oben hin zu steigern.

Eine Sonderspende ermöglichte es, im Jahr 2023 weitere drei Glocken zu gießen. Diese wurden ebenfalls von der Glockengießerei Rincker in Sinn gegossen und machten umfangreiche Erweiterungs- und Umbauarbeiten am bisherigen Glockenstuhl nötig.

Hier gibt es die Klänge des Mariengeläutes im Laufe der Jahre

12 Apostles - 12 Bells

Bell 1 - Pulsglocke

Strike tone: G flat +9
Diameter: 210 cm
Weight: 5,817 kg
Year of casting: 1951 by F. W. Schilling

The current Pulsglocke (pulse bell) is the eighth pulse bell of St Marien. The tone G flat and the inscriptions were taken from the old pulse bell, which was destroyed in 1942. The pulse bell was a gift from the Federal Republic of Germany.
The old pulse bell was cast in 1669 by the city and council foundryman Albert Benning. It weighed 7,164 kg and had a diameter of 217.2 cm. Today, it lies shattered on the floor of the south tower chapel as a memorial.
The pulse bell only rings on special holidays.
Bell 2 - Bet- und Sonntagsglocke

Strike tone: A flat +11.5
Diameter: 193 cm
Weight: 4,668 kg
Year of casting: 1985 by the Bachert brothers, Bad Friedrichshall-Kochendorf
Before the war, St Marien already had a Bet- und Sonntagsglocke ("prayer and civic bell"). It also had the tone A flat. It was cast by the city and council foundryman Lorenz Strahlborn in 1713. Its diameter was 196 cm and it weighed 5,047 kg.
The front of the bell is cast with the Madonna with the Child Jesus in her arms. It is the largest of the three peace bells and bears the inscription: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God" and "WCC Amsterdam 1948. War shall not be according to God's will".
Bell 3 - Abend- und Friedensglocke

Strike tone: B flat +8.5
Diameter: 171 cm
Weight: 2,994 kg
Year of casting: 1985 by the Bachert brothers, Bad Friedrichshall-Kochendorf

The old Abendglocke ("evening bell") was the oldest bell in St Marien. It was cast in 1317 by Johann Voss, even before the Gothic cathedral was completed. It probably rang in the central tower before the south tower was completed in 1351. However, with a diameter of 119 cm, it was much smaller than today's evening bell. It sounded the note F. The inscription on the bell read: "In onore beatissime marie virginis". Translated, this means "In honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary".
The new evening bell is the middle one of the three peace bells from 1985 and the main peace bell of the peal. Almost every day at 6 p.m., this voice of peace rings out over Lübeck. On the shoulder of the bell is inscribed "Jesus Christ is our peace". Further down is the word "peace" in all the languages of the countries that were involved in the Second World War.
Bell 4 - Schöpfungsglocke

Strike tone: C flat +9.5
Diameter: 158 cm
Weight: 2,353 kg
Year of casting: 2023 by the Rincker bell and art foundry

When, in 1951, the pulse bell with the tone F sharp struck the trombone of God with the tone C, it was immediately apparent to everyone that these two bells did not go together. The notes are in the interval of the "devil's chord". It is an uncomfortable chord that represents a dissonance. Thanks to a special donation, it was possible to remedy this dissonance by casting the Schöpfungsglocke ("Creation Bell"). It sounds the note C sharp (enharmonic B flat). A semitone lower than the Posaune Gottes ("Trombone of God"). Instead of the Trombone of God, it now rings in the festive peal.
The name of the bell is inscribed on the front: "Bell of Creation". Around the shoulder runs the inscription: "Man, where are you?"
Bell 5 - Posaune Gottes

Strike tone: C'+3.5
Diameter: 165 cm
Weight: ≈3,000 kg
Year of casting: 1740 by the Gdańsk bell founder Johann Gottfried Anthonȳ

This bell called "Posaune Gottes" ("Trombone of God") hung in St. John's Church in Gdańsk from 1740 until it was removed during the Second World War. It was the largest bell there. It survived the Second World War and the Hamburg bell cemetery and came to Lübeck in 1951. Like the other bells, it hung in a steel bell frame on a cranked yoke with a counterweight clapper until it was renovated in 2005. Since 2005, it has hung behind the pulse bell. Before 2023, this bell was responsible for announcing weddings. Since 2023, its service has been taken over by the Schöpfungsglocke ("Creation Bell").
The bell is richly decorated. The main inscription reads: "Praise the Lord in the assemblies".
Bell 6 - Gerechtigkeitsglocke

Strike tone: des'+11
Diameter: 144 cm
Weight: 1,824 kg
Year of casting: 2023 by the Rincker bell and art foundry

When three new bells were to be added to the existing four bells in 1985, the task was to expand an already slanted-sounding peal. An almost impossible task. The three new bells were tuned to the pulse bell. This resulted in another "devil's chord" (see Creation Bell for explanation) between the prayer and Sunday bells and the Dominicalis. In 2023, a special donation enabled the casting of the Gerechitgkeitsglocke ("Justice Bell"), which is half a tone lower than the Dominicalis and fits in wonderfully. Since 2023, it has taken over the ringing duties of the Dominicalis in the festive peal.
Its name is inscribed on the front of the bell: "Bell of Justice" ("Glocke der Gerechtigkeit"). The inscription "O land, land, hear the word of the Lord" runs around the shoulder. The Justice Bell was cast two months later than its two sisters and is therefore the youngest bell in the peal.
Bell 7 - Dominicalis

Strike tone: D'+5
Diameter: 144 cm
Weight: 1,740 kg
Year of casting: 1719 by the Gdańsk bell founder Benjamin Wittwerck

Until its removal during the Second World War, the voice of the Dominicalis could be heard above the rooftops of Gdańsk. Together with the Osanna bell, the Dominicalis ended up in the Hamburg bell cemetery during the war. When St. Mary's Church in Gdańsk was damaged towards the end of the Second World War, all the bells that were still hanging were completely destroyed. Thanks to their removal, the Dominicalis and the Osanna bell survived the war in the Hamburg bell cemetery. After the war, the Osanna bell was taken to St. Andrew's Church in Hildesheim and the Dominicalis here to St Marien.
Together with the other two bells from Gdańsk that came to Lübeck, it was hung in 1951 in a steel bell frame on a cranked yoke with a counterweight clapper. Since the renovation in 2005, it has been hanging opposite the large pulse bell. It rang at noon. Since 2023, this task has been taken over by the justice bell.
The bell bears a minuscule and a Latin inscription around its shoulder. The Latin inscription translates as: "The master has skilfully repaired the cracked bell so that it may continue to mark the Lord's Day." Below this, a beautiful garland of fruit runs around the bell. It is the oldest bell in St Marien in Lübeck.
Bell 8 - Versöhnungsglocke

Strike tone: E flat +10
Diameter: 132 cm
Weight: 1,516 kg
Year of casting: 1985 by the Bachert brothers, Bad Friedrichshall-Kochendorf

The Versöhnungsglocke ("Reconciliation Bell") is the smallest of the three peace bells from 1985. Around its shoulder is the inscription: "Be reconciled with God". On the front is the inscription: "Coventry November 1940 Lübeck Palmarum 1942", commemorating the mutual bombing of the cities. It rings Monday to Saturday at 8 a.m. and calls for reconciliation.
Bell 9 - Große Landglocke

Strike tone: F'+10
Diameter: 111 cm
Weight: 850 kg
Year of casting: 1735 by the Gdańsk bell founder Johann Gottfried Anthonȳ

The Große Landglocke ("large land bell") hung together with the "Posaune Gottes" ("Trombone of God") in St. John's Church in Gdańsk. These two bells are the only bells from St. John's that survived the war. The large and small land bells were used to warn the population of Gdańsk of threats. This is where the name land bell, "far across the lands", comes from.
In 1951, the large country bell, like the other two Danzig bells, was hung in a steel bell frame on a cranked yoke with a counterweight clapper. In 2005, it was hung in its renovated state at the bottom of the front compartment of the bell frame and is now easily accessible to visitors.
Like almost every older bell, the large Landglocke is also richly decorated. The main inscription around the shoulder reads: "God is praised with song, with harps, cymbals and the sound of bells". As the bell's tone of F fits perfectly into the G flat major scale of the festive peal, it is still allowed to ring in the festive peal.
Bell 10 - Hoffnungsglocke

Strike tone: G sharp +10
Diameter: 107 cm
Weight: 754 kg
Year of casting: 2023 by the Rincker bell and art foundry

The Hoffnungsglocke ("Bell of Hope") is the smallest of the three newest bells. It is the octave of the pulse bell in the peal. It also takes on many of the tasks of the large country bell.
The bell's name is visible on the front: "Bell of Hope". Around the shoulder, the bell bears the inscription: "May hope fill you with joy".
Bell 11 - Ratsglocke

Strike tone: A sharp +10.5
Diameter: 97.4 cm
Weight: 592 kg
Year of casting: 2018 by the Rincker bell and art foundry

The council bell (formerly the council and children's bell, "Ratsglocke") from the former peal of bells at St Marien still exists today. It is the only bell that was not destroyed during the world wars. With a diameter of 64 cm, it is slightly smaller than the new council bell. It dates from 1650 and was cast by bell founder Antoni Wiese.
It was always rung when the council gathered in the church moved in solemn procession to the town hall or when children were baptised in the church. In 1912, just in time before the start of the First World War, this bell was taken to the sanatorium in Strecknitz. It still hangs in the tower there today.
The current council bell was cast in 2018 together with the bell of hospitality as the soprano for the existing 7-bell peal.
Its name, "Ratsglocke" (council bell), is inscribed on the front. The inscription "Suchet der Stadt bestes" (seek the best for the city) runs around the shoulder.
Bell 12 - Gastfreundschaft

Strike tone: B'+9.5
Diameter: 87.9 cm
Weight: 452 kg
Year of casting: 2018 by the Rincker bell and art foundry

The Glocke der Gastfreundschaft ("Bell of Hospitality") was cast together with the Council Bell in 2018 as the soprano for the existing 7-bell peal. The Bell of Hospitality rounds off the peal perfectly at the top.
It also bears its name, "Bell of Hospitality" (Glocke der Gastfreundschaft), on the front. The inscription "Hospitality is not forgotten" runs around the shoulder.

When will it ring?

Ringing times

Mon-Sat 8 a.m.
Bell 8 | Versöhnungsglocke (Reconciliation bell) in E flat for morning prayer

Mon-Sat 12 noon
Bell 6 | Gerechtigkeitsglocke (Justice bell) in D flat for midday prayer (currently: Danzig peal)

Mon-Fri & Sun 6 p.m.
Bell 3 | Abendglocke/Friedensglocke (Evening bell) in b° for evening prayer

Sat or before a public holiday 8 p.m.
Respective Sunday/holiday ringing

Sun or on a public holiday 8 a.m.
Respective Sunday/holiday ringing

10-15 min. before the service
Respective Sunday ringing

The Pulsglocke (pulse bell) rings solo on Good Friday at 3 p.m. at the hour of Jesus' death.

A new ringing order is in the making

The bell simulator is already being tested according to the new ringing schedule. Why not switch on the automatic system at 8 p.m. on Saturdays or before a public holiday?

What's that sound?

Ringing melodies

Normal Sundays:
2+4+8+10+11+12 (A flat - C flat - E flat - G flat - A flat - B flat)

Minor Holiday:
2+3+4+6+8+10+11 (A flat - B flat - C flat - D flat - E flat - G flat - A flat)

Medium Holiday:
2+3+4+6+8+10+11+12 (A flat - B flat - C flat - D flat - E flat - G flat - A flat - B flat)

Major Holiday:
1+2+3+4+6+8+9+10+11+12 (G flat - A flat - B flat - C flat - D flat - E flat - F flat - G flat - A flat - B flat)

Advent Season:
3+4+8+10+11 (B flat - C flat - E flat - G flat - A flat)

Lent:
3+6+8+10+12 (B flat - D flat - E flat - G flat - B flat)

Baptism:
10+11+12 (G flat - A flat - B flat)

Wedding:
4+8+10+11 (C flat - E flat - G flat - A flat)

Funeral:
Before: 2 (A flat)
After: Normal Sunday peal

THE THREE HISTORICAL BELLS OF DANZIG

THE BIG PULSglocke

THE TEN-VOICED, SOLEMN FESTIVE PEAL

Let it sound!

This peal sounds simply fantastic and has come to mean a great deal to me, reminding me of home. When these bells, weighing several tonnes, start to move and produce a sound together, it gives me goose bumps. I would be delighted to take you on a tour of the tower and vault, where you can hear the bells for yourself. Shall we meet up?

Kurt
Volunteer