Built in 1964 St. Martin Cleverbr\u00fcck stands proudly. It’s more than just a church. It’s a bridge. A bridge connecting the wealthy villa district and the newer housing estates of Cleverbr\u00fcck. The architects Gerhard and Dieter Langmaack cleverly used the sloping land. The community hall sits below. The church sits above at the same height as the Barger Weg settlement. Its roof and spire are prominent on Clever Höhe. The high wooden ceiling resembles a tent. It gives the interior a sense of spaciousness.
St. Martin Cleverbr\u00fcck wasn’t just named for St. Martin of Tours. He died in 397. He shared his cloak with a beggar. A generous act reflecting the church’s purpose. To unite the rich and poor. It’s also named after Martin Luther. Born in November 1483 his spirit lives on here. His faith and courage inspire us even today. The congregation’s newsletter once stated this. It wanted his perseverance to serve as an example.
The need for St. Martin Cleverbr\u00fcck was driven by post-war population growth. A church building association formed around 1955/56. Their determination was clear. They wanted a church. After approval of a dedicated pastorate in 1957 the Cleverbr\u00fcck school’s break room hosted services. The pastorate’s foundation stone was laid in August 1958. The Martinskapelle a smaller chapel was dedicated in November 1959. The church became an independent parish in April 1960. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new church took place in March 1960. The foundation stone was laid in June 1963. The church’s dedication followed on March 21 1964.
The church boasts a remarkable history. Its first organ built in 1968 by Michael Becker had 14 registers. A new one with 40 registers by Noeske was installed in 1983. It has three manuals and a pedal. Three bells cast by the Bachert brothers in Bad Friedrichshall in 1960 hang in the tower. They ring out with the tones b1 des2 and es2.
In 2024 the Evangelical Lutheran Church communities merged. Bad Schwartau Rensefeld and St Martin Cleverbr\u00fcck became the Evangelical Lutheran Schwartau Church. St. Martin Cleverbr\u00fcck continues its mission. A place of worship a community hub a symbol of unity in this part of Bad Schwartau. Its story is etched in its stones and its spirit. It resonates in the hearts of the people it serves. It continues to connect people uniting them in faith and community.