Bartholomäus-Kirche

Did the bells of Bartholomäus-Kirche in Lügtgendortmund always ring as harmoniously as they do today? No. In front of this very church, imagine the year 1834. The newly constructed Bartholomäus-Kirche stands proudly. However, something is amiss. The old bell tower, deemed unsafe, remains separate from the new church building. The congregation, strapped for cash after spending 9806 talers on the new structure, hesitated to demolish the old tower. It wasn’t until 1855, after the bells had been temporarily relocated to the surrounding graveyard, that the old tower finally came down. A new tower, complete with a clock, rose in its place the following year, costing an additional 8500 talers. Bartholomäus-Kirche has witnessed a lot of history. Its story stretches back to 1308, with the first mention of a parish in Lügtgendortmund. The Bartholomäus-Kirmes fair, dating back to 1360, likely marks the year the original church was consecrated. Tragedy struck in 1388 when the church burned down during the Dortmund Feud. Two centuries later, in 1585, Spanish troops set fire to the rebuilt church’s spire. Reformation arrived in Lügtgendortmund in 1599, led by Chaplain Hermann Faber. Bartholomäus-Kirche was officially granted to the Protestant community in 1664. The oldest entries in the church records date back to 1661. The church wasn’t spared from further misfortune. The ravages of World War II left the nave severely damaged in 1945. The rebuilding process, completed in 1951, also included modifications. A new organ filled the sanctuary with music in 1976. In 1994, artist Ute Rakob designed and installed stunning new windows, bathing the interior in vibrant colors. Even the bells have their own story. The cast steel bells from 1925 were removed and replaced in 2012 with four bronze bells cast by the Bachert Bell Foundry. Their harmonious tones, es′ – as′ – b′ – c″, were specifically chosen to complement the chimes of the nearby Catholic church. So, the next time you hear the bells of Bartholomäus-Kirche, remember their journey through the trials and tribulations of history, a testament to the enduring spirit of the community that surrounds it.