| Marktkirche | |
|---|---|
| Marktkirche St. Georgii et Jacobi | |
 Market Church seen from the observation platform of theNew Town Hall | |
 Market Church and the approximate location of the former 13th-century defensive wall encircling theold town (●) that grew around the church and the market place next to it | |
52°22′18″N9°44′07″E / 52.371789°N 9.735329°E /52.371789; 9.735329 | |
| Location | Hanover |
| Country | Germany |
| Denomination | Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Status |
|
| Dedication | |
| Consecrated | ~ 1360[1] |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Hall church |
| Style | Brick Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1347[1] |
| Completed | 1366 (1366)[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 61.5 metres (202 ft) |
| Width | 26.6 metres (87 ft) |
| Nave width | 8 metres (26 ft) centre 5.4 metres (18 ft) lateral |
| Spire height | 97.26 metres (319.1 ft) |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Synod | Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover |
| Deanery | Hanover City(Stadtkirchenverband) |
| Parish | Marktkirchengemeinde, Hanover |
The Market Church (German:Marktkirche, meaning 'church at the market place') is the mainLutheran church inHanover, Germany. Built in the 14th century, it was referred to in 1342 as the church of Saints James and George (Latin:ecclesia sanctorum Jacobi et Georgii) in dedication toSaint James the Elder andSaint George.[1] Replacing an older, smaller, church at the same location that dated to 1125 and that is known to have been calledSt. Georgii (after Saint George) in 1238,[1][2] Hanover grew around it and the market place situated immediately adjacent to its south that was established around the same time.[3]: 3 Today the official name of the church is Market Church of Saints George and James (MarktkircheSt. Georgii et Jacobi), and along with the nearbyOld Town Hall is considered the southernmost example of the northern Germanbrick gothic architectural style (norddeutsche Backsteingotik).
Ahall church with a monumentalsaddleback roof that rises above the nave and two aisles, the roof and the vaults of the naves were restored in 1952 after being destroyed in anair raid in 1943. Its tower, situated on its western side and a symbol of the power and wealth of the citizens of the town when built, is both a landmark of Hanover and,637 years after its roof was first constructed, one of the highest towers inLower Saxony.
The main altar was carved oflinden wood around 1480. Its front depicts thePassion of Christ in 21 scenes following models ofMartin Schongauer,[4] while its back shows scenes from the lives of the twopatron saints,Saint George andSaint James. Moved to theAegidienkirche in 1663 to make room for aBaroque altar, the altar was taken to theWelfenmuseum in 1856 and thus spared destruction during World War II when the Aegidienkirche was bombed. It was returned to the Market Church in 1952.
An organ was installed in the tower room (Turmraum) in 1893, which included parts of an instrument of the 17th century. This organ was destroyed in World War II.
Today's main organ is at the back wall of the southern aisle. The first instrument in that location was built in 1953 and 1954 by the organ buildersEmil Hammer Orgelbau [de] andRudolf von Beckerath. It had 61 stops, four manuals and pedal. The casing (Prospekt) was designed byDieter Oesterlen and is a protected monument.
From 2007 to 2009, the instrument was rebuilt by Orgelbau Goll inLucerne. The casing and about half of the pipes were kept. The new organ has 64 stops, 39 of them mostly using the older material.[5]
The tower has 11 bells hung on a steel frame including 2 bourdon bells.[6] Among them is abourdon called theChristus-und Friedensglocke,'Christ and Peace bell'. It is the biggest bell in Lower Saxony, and is used on special occasions only. The second bourdon, calledGroßer David,'Big David', was originally donated by Pastor David Meyer for the Church of the Cross and only came to the Market Church after theSecond World War. In Germany, the bells are always numbered from largest to smallest; bell 1 is always thetenor orbourdon.
| No. | Name (German) | Name (English) | Casting year | Foundry, casting site | Weight (kg) |
| 1 | Christus-und Friedensglocke | Christ and Peace bell (Bourdon) | 1960 | Friedrich Wilhelm Schilling , Heidelberg | 10360 |
| 2 | Großer David | Big David (2nd Bourdon) | 1650 | Ludolph Siegfriedt , Hanover | 3800 |
| 3 | Marienglocke | Mary's bell | 1951 | Friedrich Wilhelm Schilling, Heidelberg | 2462 |
| 4 | Georgenglocke | George's bell | 1653 | Ludolph Siegfriedt, Hanover | 1800 |
| 5 | Vaterunserglocke | Lord's Prayer bell | 1951 | Friedrich Wilhelm Schilling, Heidelberg | 1380 |
| 6 | Morgenglocke | Morning bell | 1959 | 1050 | |
| 7 | Jakobusglocke | St. James' bell | 1951 | 623 | |
| 8 | Taufglocke | Baptismal bell | 358 | ||
| 9 | Ewigkeitsglocke | Eternity bell | 1959 | 340 | |
| 10 | Liedglocke | Song bell | 1951 | 237 | |
| 11 | Thomasglocke | Thomas bell | 1733 | Thomas Riedeweg , Hanover | 140 |
Media from Commons| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
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