The Bells

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Three voices in the tower

A ring of three bells

The bell tower of the Church of Sainte-Libaire houses three bells spanning more than two centuries of history. The oldest (and by far the most precious) dates from 1770. A gift from the Princes of Salm, it survived wars and revolutions and is today listed on the supplementary inventory of classified movable objects.

Electrified in March 1953 by the firm A. Didelot of Sarrebourg, the bells were fitted at the same time with an automatic curfew chime at 10 p.m.

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."
Psalm 4:8
🏛️ Listed on the inventory of classified movable objects — Bell of 1770

Prefectoral decree of 20 December 1996

The three bells

Detailed presentation

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The Great Bell

1770 930 kg Ø 1.13 m Pitch: F

Founder: Jean-Baptiste Fourno, founder to the late King of Poland.

Godfather: H.S.H. Prince Louis Charles Otton de Vipucel et Ban de Salm, reigning Prince of Salm-Salm.

Godmother: H.S.H. Princess Josèphe de Salm-Salm.

Blessed by: parish priest Nicolas Damin.

Gift of: the Princes of Salm.

J'ay ete benie par Mr Nicolas Damin pretre cure / Ad majorem dei gloriam / L'an de grace 1770 / J'ay eu pour parain T.H. T.P. T.I. prince S.A.S. / Monseigneur Louis Charles Otton de Vipucel et Ban de Salm / Prince regnant de Salm-Salm / Pour maraine S.A.S. Madame la princesse Joseph de Salm-Salm / J'ay ete faite moy et mes compagnes par Jean Baptiste Fourno / Fondeur de feu sa majeste Roy de Pologne

An exceptional destiny

During the First World War (1917), its two companion bells were requisitioned for war metal smelting. The smallest was lost for good; the other was recovered after the armistice but had to be recast. The great bell of 1770 was spared — most likely because of its historical link with the Princes of Salm and its exceptional heritage value.

Listed — 20 December 1996

By prefectoral decree of 20 December 1996, the bell of 1770 was listed on the supplementary inventory of classified movable objects.

Bell "Libaire"

1923 650 kg Ø 1.01 m Pitch: G

Cast and blessed under parish priest Antoine Rapp.

Je m'appelle Libaire ; j'ai ete fondue en 1923 Ernest Marchal etant maire, Antoine Rapp cure de La Broque. J'ai eu pour parrains : Georges Saint Martin, Emile Wolff, Joseph Dieudonne, Albert Humbert, Auguste Salmon, et marraines : Madeleine Saint Martin, Marie Malapert, Jeanne Remy, Marie Gabriel, Appoline Dieudonne. Messagere de Dieu j'invite a la priere et a l'esperance.

"Messenger of God, I call to prayer and to hope."

Godfathers: Georges Saint Martin, Émile Wolff, Joseph Dieudonné, Albert Humbert, Auguste Salmon.

Godmothers: Madeleine Saint Martin, Marie Malapert, Jeanne Rémy, Marie Gabriel, Appoline Dieudonné.

Bell "Marie-France"

1923 460 kg Ø 90 cm Pitch: A

Cast and blessed the same year as "Libaire," under parish priest Antoine Rapp.

Je m'appelle Marie-France. J'ai ete fondue en 1923 Ernest Marchal etant maire, Antoine Rapp cure de La Broque. J'ai eu pour parrains Maurice Remy, Leon Andre, Paul Fitte, Emile Bastien, et marraines: Gabrielle Remy, Adeline Sayer, Marie Heck, Amelie Fournier. Dieu benisse l'Eglise et la France, console les affliges.

"God bless the Church and France, comfort the afflicted."

Godfathers: Maurice Rémy, Léon André, Paul Fitte, Émile Bastien.

Godmothers: Gabrielle Rémy, Adeline Sayer, Marie Heck, Amélie Fournier.

1914–1923 · The years of war and renewal

Requisition, loss and the rebirth of the bells

The First World War left a lasting mark on the bell tower of Sainte-Libaire. In 1917, the German military authorities ordered the removal and requisition of two of the three bells, to be melted down as war metal. Only the great bell of 1770 — most likely protected by its age and its connection to the Princes of Salm — was spared. The other two disappeared: the smallest was permanently lost; the second was recovered after the armistice but in a state that required it to be recast.

After the liberation of Alsace, the parish set about reconstituting its ring. Two new bells were cast and blessed between 1922 and 1923: "Libaire" and "Marie-France," which joined the old great bell and have rung together ever since.

Photographic archives

Historical records in images

Requisition of the bells of the Church of Sainte-Libaire, La Broque, 1917
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requisition-bells-1917.jpg
1917

Requisition of the bells

During the First World War, the authorities ordered the lowering and requisition of the bells. This photograph bears witness to the removal of two of the three bells from the tower of Sainte-Libaire, destined to be melted down for the war effort.

"They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."
Isaiah 2:4
Blessing of the two new bells of the Church of Sainte-Libaire, La Broque, 1922–1923
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blessing-bells-1923.jpg
1922–1923

Blessing of the two new bells

After the war, the parish of La Broque regained two voices for its tower. The blessing of the bells "Libaire" and "Marie-France," cast in 1923 under parish priest Antoine Rapp and mayor Ernest Marchal, brought the whole community together in a spirit of faith and rebuilding.

A community event

Each of the two bells received several godfathers and godmothers from parish families, making their blessing a collective act of remembrance and hope after the years of war.

1953

The electrification of the bells

In March 1953, under parish priest Lucien Friederich, the firm A. Didelot of Sarrebourg (Moselle) carried out the electrification of the bells. This modernisation included the installation of an automatic curfew chime at 10 p.m.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot."
Ecclesiastes 3:1–2