Peasant Cathedral

Bauerndom is the name, but not a scientific term, for three churches in the Hadelner Land , the St. Jacobi Church in Lüdingworth near Cuxhaven , the St. Nicolai Church in Altenbruch (also near Cuxhaven) and the Severikirche Otterndorf .

In the Hadelner Land, the term peasant cathedral is derived from the fact that these church buildings were built and financed by the surrounding farmers.

The farmers in Hadeln were rich because the alluvial land was very fertile; according to ancient information, one grain became ten , while in other areas a ratio of one to four was considered good. Since there were large amounts of mussel shells in the soil, it was possible to counteract the depletion of the soil for a long time by burning them and applying this natural fertilizer.

Since the nine parishes of the state of Hadeln established a peasant estate self-government after the defeat of the Duchy of Saxony, they were not liable to any lords and these parishes also established their own jurisdiction, the so-called parish courts.

In Altenbruch, for example, the secular administration consisted of the mayor and two assessors from each district.

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  Altenbruch, St. Nicolai with the mighty choir (1727/28)

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  Lüdingworth, tower of St. Jacobi

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  Otterndorf, St. Severi Church from the north

Individual evidence

1. ^ From conversations with several museum church leaders in Hadlener Land