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New sound for Franzburg: Consecration of bells celebrated in the castle church!
On November 7th, 2025, a new bell was inaugurated in the Franzburg Castle Church. It complements the carillon and was financed through donations.
New sound for Franzburg: Consecration of bells celebrated in the castle church!
November 7th, 2025 was a big day for the Protestant church community in Franzburg, because on that day a new church bell was pulled into the newly renovated castle church. The bell, which weighs around 700 kilograms, was transported into the newly restored bell house using an impressive crane. This was the culmination of a lengthy process that began three years ago when the community decided to purchase a new bell. A total of 10,000 euros were raised in donations that could be used for this important achievement. The bell was made by the renowned Bachert bell foundry in Baden-Württemberg and bears the catchy quote “Ora et labora”, which means “Pray and work”.
On Reformation Day, a week before the ceremonial entry, the bell was brought to the church in a parade and consecrated in a ceremonial service. This not only made an acoustic statement, but also honored the tradition of bell casting. The sound of church bells is even recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage because it is part of the way of life, peace and collective cultural memory. There are over 90,000 church bells ringing in Germany, most of them made using the traditional clay molding process that has been used since the 12th century. The history and tradition of bell casting in particular play a major role in people's ecclesiastical and cultural identity.
The story behind the new bell
The bell house itself also underwent extensive renovation, which aims to preserve the historic charm of the church for future generations. However, there is a small downside: the new bell cannot currently be used to its full extent. An electronic bell mechanism is missing, meaning the bell cannot be rung normally in the near future. However, the community hopes that it can be heard for the first time on Dead Sunday, November 23rd, or at the latest at Christmas. If this is the case, it will ring daily at lunchtime and 6 p.m. and eventually become part of the church carillon.
The new bell is the third in the castle church's carillon and is part of a long tradition. The celebratory investment in a new bell shows how important it is to the community to preserve traditions while at the same time taking into account the needs of modern times. The combination of history and progress makes this new bell a symbol of life and community in Franzburg.
In an age in which many things seem fleeting, it is even more important that we preserve the values and traditions of the past. The parish's commitment to the purchase and renovation of the bell is therefore not just a matter of let's celebrate in the here and now, but also a look into the future in order to strengthen cultural heritage and community identity.