With this video I wish all bell lovers a happy Easter! * Today the bells of the Protestant town church of St. Mary & Holy Cross in Bernstadt auf dem Eigen in Upper Lusatia are being presented. The church was first mentioned in 1250, after it had been rebuilt and enlarged. It was damaged during the Hussite Wars and re-consecrated in 1462. The current cross-ribbed vault was added in 1519/20. The church was devastated and robbed during the Thirty Years' War. The entire roof structure and ridge turret burned down in the town fire of 1686. As a result, the current 64 m high church tower was built on the east side. In 1734 the church received a larger organ, which has always been located in the northern choir gallery. The current altar in the Renaissance style dates from 1806. In 1828, the church roof and tower burned down again as a result of the second fire in the city and were subsequently rebuilt. During the church renovation in 1888, the three vestibules were added, some alterations were made to the nave and a new organ by the Eule company was installed. In 1945, the tower was hit by several artillery strikes and the church windows were damaged when the Pließnitz Bridge was blown up. From 1951 to 1955, extensive safety measures were taken on the church. In 1967, vertical cracks in the masonry of the church tower appeared due to static problems. Construction work did not begin until 1972/73, during which the tower was re-plastered and given a new coat of paint. A soundboard was also installed in the tower, as well as new windows and blinds in the bell chamber. In the 2000s, the organ was restored, the apse and choir were renovated as part of a complete renovation, the plaster on the ceilings and walls was renewed, the paintings from 1888/89 were cleaned, touched up and partially reconstructed, and the vestibules were renovated. In 1463, the church received two bells for the first time, which were hung in a turret on the choir. In 1589, a third, small one was added. After the town fire in 1686 and the destruction of the bells, three new bells were cast in 1690 and hung in a bell cage next to the church. They ended up in the tower when the tower was built. The bells melted again in the second town fire in 1828. In the same year, the church received a new triple peal from the Gruhl company in Kleinwelka. In 1844, the small bell had to be recast, again by Gruhl. In 1917, the large and small bells, as well as those of the cemetery chapel, had to be given to the armaments industry. Until 1921, the remaining middle bell served alone. In that year, a new steel bell from Bochum was installed and the remaining bronze bell was traded in. In 1960, electric ringing machines were installed. Due to damage to the tower, which was caused by structural safety issues in connection with the vibrations of the bell ringing, the bells were not rung from 1967 onwards. During the renovation, the historic wooden bell frame was removed and replaced with a steel one. The bells also received cranked yokes with counterweight clappers to slow down the ringing rhythm, although this leads to a noticeable loss of sound. In 1977, it rang out over Bernstadt for the first time again. The bells: Motif: des'-f'-as' (major triad) Bell 1 cast steel des' 1921 Bochumer Verein, Bochum 1 560 kg 1 574 mm Decoration: on the shoulder between two double round bars Casting note: GEG. V. BOCHUMER VEREIN I. BOCHUM on the flank inscription: PEACE BE WITH YOU , below blossom on the Wolm nine round bars Bell 2 cast steel f' 1921 Bochumer Verein, Bochum 1 010 kg 1 333 mm Decoration: on the shoulder between two double round bars Casting note: GEG. V. BOCHUMER VEREIN I. BOCHUM on the flank a cross, underneath: BERNSTADT 1921. on the Wolm four round bars Bell 3 cast steel as' 1921 Bochumer Verein, Bochum 560 kg 1 100 mm Decoration: on the shoulder between two double round bars Casting note: GEG. V. BOCHUMER VEREIN I. BOCHUM on the flank inscription DENNOCH! , underneath crossed palm fronds, on the Wolm five round bars About the photo: The outside photo was taken on April 24th, 2022 for the confirmation. The inside photos were taken separately on October 28th, 2022. 0:00 - Photo series with outside photo 2:51 - Photos Gl. 3 3:22 - Ringing Gl. 3 4:48 - Photos Gl. 2 5:12 - Ringing Gl. 2 6.45 - Photos Gl. 1 7:23 – Ringing Gl. 1 8:58 – Full ringing Many thanks to Mr. Sommer for making the recording possible and for his support, as well as to Pastor Hahn for allowing the recording and its publication. Sources: own images Information brochure on the church Book “Bells in Saxony” by Rainer Thümmel, p. 275 “The bells of Upper Lusatia” in the Niederlausitzer Magazin 1906, p. 145, 146 (Author of the file: H. Kairies)