Stellenbosch, Evangelical Lutheran Church

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Stellenbosch, Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Evangelical Lutheran Church Stellenbosch and Somerset West is situated in Stellenbosch. Like many other Lutheran churches, it has three bells, all coming from the Schilling Foundry in Apolda. The bells have been ordered in 1962 and delivered a year later in 1963. The access to the bells is difficult. Moreover, the bells are squeezed in a very narrow space that makes measurements almost impossible. Fortunately, there is a plaque in the church entrance that gives information on the inscriptions.

1. The smallest bell of some 80 kg hangs closest to the entrance and is called the Taufglocke. On the crown stands the following inscription

Jauchzet Gott alle lande

which refers to verse 1 of Psalm 66. As with other Schilling bells there are no further decorations apart from the founder’s emblem. One notes the letters S (Schilling), F (Friedrich) and W (Wilhelm).

2. The largest bell is the Sterbeglocke and weighs some 170 kg. On the crown one can decipher the inscription

Der Tod Ist Verschlungen in den Sieg

and refers to the letter of St Paul to the Corinthians, 15:54. Also here there are no further decorations but the founder’s emblem and the date of production.

3. The third bell is the Betglocke and weighs 120 kg. The text on the bell differs slightly from that on the plaque in the entrance. What we could read on the bell is

Wachet und Betet Damit Ihr Nicht in Anfechtung Fallet

a text that refers either to Matt. 26: 41 or to Marc 14:38.

The three bells together make up a nice set. In contrast with many other bells there are no moulding wires or other decorations. This might be related to the price of the bells that is also determined by the number and delicacy of the decorations. It would be good to know who has been responsible for the ordering of the bells and for the inscriptions on them.