Johannes Bourlet

Johannes Bourlet (* in Jülich ; † January 22, 1695 ) was a German bell founder .

At first he worked with Petrus Michelin . Its first bell from 1669 has not survived.

Bourlet settled in Havert ( Selfkant ). Petrus Michelin soon died and Bourlet started his own business as a wandering bell founder. His first self-cast bell in Bonn- Küdinghoven fell victim to the Second World War . Bells cast by him have been preserved in Stommeln and Hohkeppel . For the church of St. Martin in Kirchberg he cast a 500 kg bell in 1674, which is tuned to the tone as'. Four years later, Bourlet cast a larger bell for the Christ Church in Rheinhausen- Hochemmerich . This bell weighs 1,882 kg and is still there today.

In the 1680s Bourlet moved through the district of Heinsberg . In 1680 he cast two bells for Randerath . The smaller of the two has been preserved, while the larger (approx. 800 kg) was destroyed. In 1682 a bell was made for Kirchhoven , today in the district home museum in Heinsberg. Also in 1682 - as part of the "bells dispute to Ubach" - had Bourlet on the small surviving bell of St. Dionysius at the behest of the priest L. Vassen the insignia of the mayor grind Mathias Bey.

A three-part chime of Bourlet hangs in Geilenkirchen . The bells have the tones g ', as' and b' and weigh 950, 620 and 500 kg. In 1683, Bourlet's second largest surviving bell was built for St. Peter's Church in Rheinberg . It weighs 2000 kg and is tuned in c sharp. In 1684 he was called to Karken to cast a 500 kg a'-bell. It shattered in 1837 and is now in the old church tower in Karken. Further bells were made for the Bonn Minster or for the Katharinenkirche in Willich , Bourlet's second largest preserved bell (1500 kg, tone c sharp).

In 1695 Bourlet cast his last bells in Honnef , some of which are still preserved. Johannes Bourlet died on January 22nd of the same year three days after a severe stroke after receiving the Sacrament of St. Oiling.

literature

• Ernst Nellessen : Life and work of the Jülich bell founder Johannes Bourlet , special edition, contributions to the Jülich story No. 43 (1976).