St. Elisabeth (Aachen)

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St. Elisabeth Church from Jülicher Strasse (2017)
St. Elisabeth Church from Blücherplatz (2007)

The Church of St. Elisabeth was built in 1907 as a Roman Catholic church in Aachen , Jülicher Strasse 68. The church was profaned on April 24, 2016 . Since then, the former church building has served various purposes for private investors. The building is a listed building .

Establishment

In 1901 the building site for the Church of St. Elisabeth was acquired. In 1903 a competition among architects was announced, which Eduard Endler from Cologne won. Construction began in autumn 1904. On May 3, 1905, the foundation stone was blessed , and on May 12, 1907, the church and the high altar were consecrated . The church bore the patronage of St. Elisabeth of Thuringia and became the parish church of the parish of St. Elisabeth, which was established at the same time.

architecture

The shapes are reminiscent of the late Gothic period in the middle of the 15th century. All architectural parts, such as B. Portals, windows and borders are made of sandstone , whereas flat facings are made of Ettringer tufa blocks . The roof stretches over three naves and was covered with Moselle slate. The tower's helmet was covered with copper plates that were removed in 1915 during the First World War . Since then, the tower has also been covered in slate.

Statues of St. Mary and St. Elisabeth can be seen on the outer portals , which were made by the sculptor Tilmans from Erkelenz . The decorative sculptures were made by the sculptor Sprenkels from Cologne.

In 1926 the pastors and chaplain moved into service houses, and in the following year the closing wall at Blücherplatz was renewed. These building measures gave the building ensemble a cohesive impression.

Furnishing

Pulpit of the secular church of St. Elisabeth (2017)

Towards the end of 1908, the decorated choir windows were installed, showing scenes from the life of St. Elizabeth. The pulpit was designed by the architect and implemented by the sculptor Lambert Piedboeuf . He also made the mission cross that was added in 1910 .

On May 1, 1913 four new ones were church bells of bronze inaugurated that had been financed by donations. On May 10, 1913, they rang for the first time in the evening. On June 17, 1917, they fell victim to the war and were melted down, as were 23 organ pipes , making the organ unusable for two years.

At Christmas 1919 the church had electric lights for the first time and the electric heating system was on.

On July 9, 1922, the war memorial chapel was inaugurated in memory of those who died in the First World War. The sculptor Lambert Piedboeuf created the Virgin Mary as a Pietà for this .

On October 21, 1928, the church received new bells that had been cast by the company Petit & Gebr. Edelbrock . They bore the same inscriptions as the bells lost in the war.

Second World War

During the Second World War, the services in the church had to be interrupted because the shelter did not meet the regulations. On Trinity Sunday 1940, the police order was received to end the service immediately. Four rooms on the site were quickly converted into air raid shelters, which were removed on Corpus Christi evening. From then on, church services could be celebrated again with a limited number of visitors.

As in the First World War, the new bells were melted down again to extract material. Shortly before Christmas, they were the first bells in Aachen to be dismantled.

On July 14, 1943, the church was badly damaged by a bomb attack. The roof and the tower cladding burned down completely. After the rubble had been removed, the service on July 25, 1943 could be celebrated again in the church. The roof was not sealed again until around Christmas that year.

On September 10, 1944, the war front stood in front of Aachen. Pastors and chaplains had to leave the parish due to the eviction order. From April 1, 1945, church services could be celebrated again.

post war period

Plaque on the portal of the Church of St. Elisabeth (2017)

Since the church had suffered severe damage during the war, the western aisle had to be closed in 1946. The services had to take place in emergency church rooms in the area. In 1947 the St. Elisabeth construction and equipment association was founded. The architect Peter Salm from Aachen supervised the reconstruction. The church was rebuilt in its original form with net vaults . On February 25, 1951, the first service took place in the rebuilt church building. The high altar was consecrated again because it had been moved when it was raised.

In the course of the next few decades, various renovations followed in and around the church: On August 3, 1952, an organ with eight registers played for the first time . On December 1, 1952, the spire was attached, and in the following years the tower roof was covered with slate. In 1953 the pastorate was restored. In 1961 an electric amplifier and loudspeaker system followed, followed by an oil heater in the following year . In the years up to 1964, ailing stones in the choir and tower were replaced. The windows that were only temporarily installed after the war were then professionally replaced.

In 1965 a new sacrament chapel was created, which two years later received a stained glass window. The crucifixion group for the chapel was restored and relocated, as were the tabernacle and front altar for changes in the chancel .

In 1969 the chancel was redesigned and the old high altar was removed. The old altar became the foundation for the new altar; so it should be symbolized that the new has roots in the old. The new altar was made from Moselle sandstone by the sculptor Hermann Pier from Mulartshütte . In 1970 the new altar was consecrated. A large hanging cross was attached. It was made of bronze with lead crystals and was designed by the goldsmith Albert Sous . A bronze ambo from Sous followed. The organ was also completely overhauled.

From 1985 to 1988 the church was completely scaffolded due to extensive restoration work. In 1993 the slate roof of the tower was exchanged for a copper roof. Defects in the steel structure of the tower were found, which were renovated. The bell had to be dismantled during construction. In 2004 a group of young people got involved by painting the interior of the church. In 2005 the entrance area of ​​the church was redesigned and a café opened in the mornings.

In the course of the exhibition Paweł Althamer . Sky slide in the neighboring Ludwig Forum for International Art , the artist set up a play device with slide in the church in October 2010, which he had previously designed with Aachen children.

In 2010 the parish of St. Elisabeth lost its independence and together with the parishes of St. Germanus, St. Hubert and St. Martin formed the new parish of Christ our Brother .

Profanation

Interior of the secular church of St. Elisabeth (2017)

In 2012 the parish Christ our Brother began to look for a buyer for the building complex because the maintenance costs were too high in view of the number of people attending the service and the diocese's savings targets.

Between October 2014 and August 2015 there was a kind of branch of the Kerkrader Continium Discovery Center with exhibition and research areas for children and young people.

In 2016, the Aachen-based investor Norbert Hermanns, CEO of Landmarken AG, found himself the buyer. The last holy mass was celebrated on April 24, 2016 , the church was de-dedicated and thus declared a "completely normal" building again. The handover to the buyer took place on December 1, 2016.

As a temporary use, Hotel Total moved in for three months from August 2016. The project, financed by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with 400,000 euros, involved the long-term unemployed and refugees in the renovation and care of hotel guests.

In 2017, the digitalHUB Aachen initiative funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia developed the concept of the Digital Church together with the investor . The Digital Church is the location of the digitalHUB Aachen , which opened its CoWorking space for startups , medium -sized companies and industry there from July 7, 2017 . At the same time, the room serves as a meeting place and event location for events, open cultural or private events.

Pastor to St. Elisabeth

  • 1907–1911 Robert Beyer
  • 1911–1922 Jakob Hubert Erbel
  • 1922 Heinrich Hostenkamp (parish administrator, chaplain)
  • 1922–1937 Johann Hubert Julius Firmenich
  • 1937–1951 Peter Gilson
  • 1951–1981 Ferdinand Lenßen
  • 1982–2009 Heinz Hubert Baumann

literature

  • Stephan Beck, Thomas Beck, Tobias Zimmermann, Alois Heinrichs, Stefan Madrzak, Katharina Podgórny, Marianne Ramm, Matthias Ulfig, Elisabeth van de Mortel, Franz Völler: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen - 1907 - 2007 . Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth, 2007. (116 + 2 pages)
  • Karl Heinz Hover, Stephan Beck, Ute Linzenich-Bootsmann, Rainer Bootsmann, Heinz Küppers, Karin Linzenich, Udo Freudl, et al: Christ our brother - The book of the parishes of St. Germanus, St. Elisabeth, St. Martin, St. Hubert . nonplusultra, November 2009. (72 + 4 pages) (Excerpts: [1] )

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 10 .
  2. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 11 .
  3. ↑ Plaque on the portal of the church.
  4. ^ Homepage of the parish Christ our Brother
  5. ↑ a b Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 12 .
  6. ↑ a b c d Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 18 .
  7. ↑ a b Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 23 .
  8. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 14 .
  9. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 17 .
  10. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 24 .
  11. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 29 .
  12. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 32 .
  13. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 32 .
  14. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 33 .
  15. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 34 .
  16. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 37 .
  17. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, 50 years of St. Elisabeth 1907–1957, p. 41 .
  18. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, The next 50 years 1957-2007, p. 46 .
  19. ↑ a b Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, The next 50 years 1957-2007, p. 47 .
  20. ↑ a b c Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, The next 50 years 1957-2007, p. 48 .
  21. ↑ a b Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, The next 50 years 1957-2007, p. 49 .
  22. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, The next 50 years 1957-2007, p. 52 .
  23. ↑ Stephan Beck et al .: 100 years of St. Elisabeth Aachen. 1907-2007 . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth. Aachen 2007, The next 50 years 1957-2007, p. 56 .
  24. ↑ Oliver Meys, Birgit Gropp: New perspectives on unfamiliar life in the church - St. Elisabeth, Aachen . In: StadtBauKultur NRW (Hrsg.): Churches in Transition - Changed Use of Historic Churches . September.
  25. ↑ Verena Müller: Art Prize Winner lets children "slide off the pulpit". In: Aachener Zeitung . Aachener Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, accessed on August 16, 2017 .
  26. ^ Homepage of the parish Christ our Brother
  27. ↑ a b c d Robert Esser: Investor buys St. Elisabeth and Kaplanei. In: Aachener Zeitung. Aachener Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, January 25, 2016, accessed on August 14, 2017 .
  28. ↑ Georg Dünnwald: Soon there will be no more church services in St. Elisabeth. In: Aachener Zeitung. Aachener Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, June 25, 2012, accessed on August 14, 2017 .
  29. ↑ The Continium Discovery Experience. (No longer available online.) In: Official website of the city of Aachen. City of Aachen, archived from the original on August 16, 2017 ; accessed on August 16, 2017 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.aachen.de
  30. ^ Dedicated to St. Elisabeth. In: Catholic parish Aachen North. Parish of Christ Our Brother, accessed August 14, 2017 .
  31. ^ Matthias Hinrichs: St. Elisabeth: Much more than a hotel under the church tower . In: Aachener Nachrichten . August 1, 2016.
  32. ↑ Landmarken AG and digitalHUB Aachen are developing DIGITAL CHURCH as a lighthouse. In: digitalHUB Aachen. digitalHUB Aachen eV, June 22, 2017, accessed on August 14, 2017 .

Coordinates: 50 ° 46 ′ 46.6 ″  N , 6 ° 6 ′ 1.8 ″  E