Hardly any other church in Bochum is touched by as many people every day as the St. Luke's Church. Whether by train, bus, car, bike or on foot - on Wittener Strasse, one of the main streets in the city, everyone has to pass "Altenbochum Church". Since the construction of two new business centers in the east before and after 2000, the church has also moved into the lively center of Altenbochum. Aldanbochem, first mentioned in the tax registers of Werden Abbey around 900, was a small farming community until industrialization, whose main farms can still be identified, at least by name. Church life only began to stir here with the population growth, among other things due to the Dannenbaum mine, which had existed since 1736, in deep mining from 1859-1958. (Then Opel site, today "Mark 51°7"). The parishes were founded in 1888 (Catholic) and 1897 (Protestant). Construction of the Protestant church began in 1898 according to plans by Abraham Voermann, but the building permit was only granted two weeks before its inauguration on September 5, 1899. The result was a rather simple workers' church. Although it can be seen as a central space, it follows the Eisenach regulations. After destruction in World War II and purification in 1966, it now appears as a bright, uniform space, especially after the last renovation in 2015/17. The renovation was necessary because the roof structure was infested with dry rot. A milestone for the spatial effect was the introduction of a depiction of the cross and communion table from the Protestant church in Bochum-Laer. Both parishes merged in 2007, and the church in Laer has been abandoned. The impressive, austere choir windows finally have a suitable counterweight. Much of the work up to the present day, including the renovation of the Sauer organ from 1899, was and is supported by the dedicated work of the "Lukaskirche Foundation". The name "Lukaskirche" was first given in 1959 in memory of the two depictions of the war-damaged rose window from the Gospel of Luke, the parables of the prodigal son and the good Samaritan. The entry in Bochum's list of monuments in 1992 was also due to the original ring of Bochum cast steel bells, which will celebrate its 125th birthday with the church in 2024. But are the bells really 125 years old? Rev. Niederstein and the presbytery were quick to seek bells; the first cost estimate from the Bochum Association (BVG) dates from December 9, 1898, and two more followed. The usual ringing was suggested, initially smaller, later also a h° fis' gis' (!). All estimates revolve around 6,000 marks, which is obviously the amount available and is also mentioned several times later. A letter from the BVG dated March 4, 1899 provides the first solution to the puzzle: Rev. Niederstein and the presbytery decided to buy two existing bells (stock items), and the BVG was to cast the large bell - but reserved the right to deliver a completely new chime in C sharp' E sharp' G sharp if this was not possible. A letter dated May 2, 1899 announced the delivery of the current chime. The three bells have very different designs, the two small bells are relatively richly decorated - but they do not mention the year they were cast. Based on the casting/serial number of Gl. 2 1383, the two small bells can be clearly identified as being made in 1871. This makes the two bells the second oldest steel bells in use in Bochum! The east-facing sides of all 3 bells are heavily corroded, the inscriptions are almost illegible. However, the inscription on bell 2 was previously incorrectly named "Land, land, hear the Lord's word!" The recognizable remains point to the longer inscription provided by the BVG. The donor name Munscheid on bell 1 is also a mystery. The name Munscheid actually only appears in Bochum with a district in the Eppendorf district, far away. Here we have to search deeper in the archives. Overall, the bells, especially 2+3, are very sonorous, they are fairly clean sub-minor sixth bells. Unfortunately, the large bell has been poorly intoned since 2017 and does not ring well. Ringing data: cis', 1574 mm (BVG), ~1600 kg, casting no.: 8921 Inscription on the neck: CAST BY BOCHUMER VEREIN I. BOCHUM 1899 (barely legible) Inscriptions on the flank: GLORY BE TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST/AND PEACE ON EARTH Opposite side: FOUNDED BY/HERMANN (?) HEINRICH MUNSCHEID e', 1260 mm (measured), ~850 kg, casting no. 1383 Inscriptions on the flank: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD ZEBAOTH/AND ALL LANDS SHALL BE FULL OF HIS HONOR! (presumably, no longer legible!). Opposite side: BOCHUM. fis', 1170 mm (BVG), ~750 kg. Inscription on the flank: OPEN WIDE THE GATES AND LIFT UP THE DOORS/IN THE WORLD. THAT THE KING OF HONOR MAY COME IN./PSALM 24:7. Photo taken: 9/28/24 For image and source references, see 1st, marked comment. Many thanks to Pastor Frank for her kind support and permission for this project!