Christ Church (Altbach)
The Evangelical Christ Church is a village church at Weinbergstrasse 24 in Altbach . It was planned by Hans Seytter and decorated by Helmuth Uhrig .
history
After the Second World War , the increased need for space due to the influx of people displaced from their homeland led to the planning of a new church to replace the medieval Ulrichskirche .
After the groundbreaking on February 3, 1959, the foundation stone was laid on June 13, and the topping-out ceremony was celebrated on September 11, 1959. The 486 seat church was inaugurated on July 24, 1960 by Regional Bishop Haug. The YMCA received a place to stay in the youth rooms of the building. In 1994 more youth rooms were added.
The church, located between Weinbergstrasse and Urbanstrasse, was planned as a traditional village church, which is why an abstract decoration in the modern style was dispensed with. Instead of an empty cross on the choir wall, the sculptor Uhrig recommended a "multilayered" figure of Christ, which should not only call to mind the dead but also the living Jesus. As a guide Uhrig suggested the quote: "And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we saw his glory." ( Joh. 1,14 LUT )
External jewelry
There is a gold-plated weathercock on the 32-meter-high church tower. The tower contains four bells, three of which were cast when the church was being built, but the fourth and smallest comes from the old Ulrichskirche.
The lower entrance door has a clock-like design with depictions of the Ten Commandments embossed in copper . They are supposed to symbolize the Law of Moses and the Old Testament in general.
On the southern outer wall and above the lower entrance are the corner stones of the symbols of the four evangelists ; at the top the human head with wings for Matthew , below the lion's head for Markus , then the bull's head for Luke and the eagle for Johannes . Also on the outside of the church, to the left of the lower entrance, the foundation stone of the Christ Church is set into the wall. It is decorated with a cross; Above the crossbars the Greek letters Α and Ω can be seen, underneath is the year of the laying of the foundation stone.
The upper door to Urbanstrasse shows, also embossed in copper, in six pictures works of mercy and charity, as they are described in the Gospel of Matthew 25, 35-36.
Interior
Christ figure
A staircase leads from the lower entrance to the church. The dark blue painted choir wall opposite the entrance is decorated with a large figure of Christ who stands, floats or hangs with horizontally outstretched arms, thus forming the shape of a cross. She wears a long robe; there is no actual cross and a crown of thorns.
altar
In front of the blue wall, which is supposed to symbolize heaven and space, stands the raised altar, which Uhrig did not make himself, but designed it. It is a simple marble table . Originally the parish council wanted to transfer the old altar crucifix from the Ulrichskirche to the Christuskirche. Uhrig had opposed this request, however, because this crucifix would not have matched the style or content of the new church and in particular the figure of Christ behind the altar: Since this Christ is depicted as the risen Christ without a cross, a crucifix with the body of the crucified would be in close proximity has been contradicting itself. Hence the altar only bears an empty cross.
Round window
A colored round window above the organ gallery corresponds to the figure of Christ on the choir wall behind the altar . It addresses the second article of faith in nine round detailed images. The passage “received by the Holy Spirit” illustrates an annunciation scene with Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. The words “born of the Virgin Mary” include a representation of Mary with the child and the manger in the stable at Bethlehem under the shining star. A scene with Christ before Pilate illustrates the passage of text “Suffered under Pontius Pilate”; a crucifixion scene with Mary and John the words "crucified, died". “And buried” illustrates a depiction of the burial of Christ with Joseph of Arimathia and women. The sixth detailed window shows Christ's descent into hell to the words "descended into the kingdom of death". The passage “Risen from the dead on the third day” includes an image with the resurrection of Christ with angels and women at his grave. The penultimate detailed window for the words “ascended to heaven” shows the ascension of Christ and the last, centrally arranged, illustrates the sentence: “He sits at the right hand of God, the Almighty Father; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. ”Seven stars symbolize the universe in this picture, and Christ as judge of the world wields a double-edged sword, which corresponds to the description in the Revelation of John (113-116). Uhrig designed these window pictures in 1960. The window was made by H. Bernhardt in Ravensburg .
pulpit
The pulpit parapet is decorated with three carved wood scenes from the life of Jesus. The first scene facing the upper entrance is based on the Gospel of Matthew, the adoration of the baby Jesus by the three wise men in the stable at Bethlehem . The wedding at Cana is depicted on the front of the pulpit : six jugs in which two men pour water, which is then turned into wine by Jesus, can be seen here. The third picture, which is about the feeding of the five thousand, faces the baptismal font . Uhrig chose the version in which Jesus said to his disciples for his portrayal of this miracle: "You give them something to eat."
Baptismal font
The font has two reliefs. Facing the church is the depiction of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John the Baptist with the Spirit of God in the form of a dove. On the other side of the baptismal font, the baptism or mission command of Jesus to his disciples is shown.
Picture frieze
A frieze on the east wall above the windows shows the healing of the infirm at the Bethesda pond on the left , next to the Jewish scholars who admonish the observance of the Sabbath , then the coronation and completion of the authority of Christ, who is depicted on the judgment seat in the mandorla , and finally Christ at the Last Judgment next to the traditional hell's jaws into which the condemned wander.
Michael's window
The upper door of the church near the pulpit leads into an anteroom under the tower. Here is the small Michael window with the fight of the archangel Michael against the dragon.
Others
In 1968, a gold medal was issued by the city of Altbach, which showed the new school and the swimming pool on one side, and the Holy Cross and Christ Church in Altbach on the other.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c total work of art for church services. Altbach: Evangelical Christ Church is 50 years old , in: Esslinger Zeitung, July 23, 2010
- ↑ data sheet
- ↑ YMCA ( Memento from April 26, 2005 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ a b c Helmut Schmitz: The Christ Church in Altbach. Their artistic decoration and their language. Altbach 1992.
- ^ Report on the repair of the weathercock
- ↑ The corner stones
- ↑ medal
Coordinates: 48 ° 43 ′ 30 " N , 9 ° 22 ′ 53" E