Saint Marien's Church Marburg Germany

Saint Marien's Church 

Marburg Germany

So as we parted company in my article last week we were leaving Marburg Castle high on a hill in Marburg Germany.  My team was walking down the steep stairs on the other side of the castle down the hill.  While we were walking we passed the church whose steeple that I had taken the photograph of in the sunrise shot that morning. It was so beautiful we had to stop.  This church goes by several names. It is the Lutheran's Parrish Church of St. Marien's Church, St. Mary's Church and The Church Between The Castle and the Market. 

St. Marien's was consecrated to the "dear woman Beatae Mariae on May 1, 1297.  It was built after St. Elizabeths but since at that time the city limits were different St. Elizabeth's church was not considered in Marburg so that made St. Marien's Church the oldest church in Marburg Germany. She was the first construction by the Teutonic Order. After the reformation, she became the Hessian Cathedral Church, the University Church (Marburg University), Court Church and the grave of the landgraves.  

The first bell for the bell tower was poured by some unknown artisan in 1362.  It is in the tone of B1 and is the oldest instrument still ringing according to my research. The next bell was the largest one and that was poured in 1669 by Johannes Schirnbein there in Marburg. During WWII the Nazi's 

required the "donation" of all of the church bells to be melted down and used in the war effort. They were sent to a Glockenfriedhof which is a collection place for the bells. Bells from the 16th and 17th century and from the middle ages were not spared. The largest bell was required and they lowered it down through the tower and out of the church where it was sent to the Glockenfriedhof in Hamburg - Veddel. Bells were separated into several catagories including the historically valuable.  Even those that were considered historically important were destroyed.  This particular bell was spared and returned to its place in the tower. Two other bells were added one in 1925 the second largest bell and one in 1951 which is the smallest bell. 

Related Post: 8 Days In Germany 

It is said that 45, 000 bells were taken in Germany alone and 35,000 in other occupied territories.

When we entered the sanctuary and walked up the aisle past the pews and up to the altar.  The light streaming through the stained glass was beautiful. It made you catch your breath and want to hold it in such an amazing place

While we were there taking in all of the history that surrounded us a gentleman slipped out of the sanctuary quietly and exited the room.  We stood in awe of this magnificent edifice in reverent silence.  Suddenly the silence shattered when the pipe organ stirred to life and filled the sacred space with music that danced and swirled around us. We could only imagine this place, filled with worshipers through the centuries raising their voices in praise.   

Pipe organ built in 1722 by Johann Nikolaus Schafer

Initially, we all jumped at the shock of the music piercing the silence but when we recovered my female colleague grabbed her phone and recorded it on her phone and at this time I am trying to get a copy of it to share with you.

 This amazing organ was built in 1722 by Johann Nikolaus Schafer.  In 1722 in America Benjamin Franklin is a teenager and writing under the pseudonym Silence Dogood secretly publishing his articles in his brother's newspaper where he works as an intern years before our revolution. 

Up in the choir loft on the northern wall is the tomb for Lous (Ludwig) IV landgrave of Hesse and Marburg. It was started in 1590.  Ludwig was the son of Phillip I of Hesse and Christine, daughter of the Duke of Saxony. They are both buried in Martins Kirche (Church) in Kassel Germany. Ludwig was the husband of Elizabeth (St. Elizabeth as mentioned in the article about St. Elizabeth's church.  

Related Article: Marburg Germany and the Marburg Castle 

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His father and mother's marriage was not a happy one. He didn't want to get a divorce because it was thought to be wrong and sinful so he married his 17-year-old mistress without divorcing his first wife because he thought bigamy was a lesser sin than divorce. He went on to have 9 children with his second wife.

This was a fantastic opportunity to experience the rich history of this town and church.  I would have loved to be here during a worship service and be able to experience it but this will have to be good enough.  I am so thankful that we were able to see and experience all of this.

Next week we will head to the town of Marburg further down the hill and walk its historic cobblestone streets.

Mr. Cottage

End Of Log.

Read my next article: Traveling Alone - My 3rd Week In Germany