Evangelical Church (Balatonboglár)

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Balatonboglár is located in Somogy County and is one of the most modern churches of its kind in Hungary .

history

Historical background

The Lutherans in Hungary are still today with around 180,000 members (a share of around 2% of the total Hungarian population) in a decidedly diaspora situation (according to the 2017 census). They are organized in around 300 parishes in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary (ELKU).

In the past, there were also extremely few Lutherans living on the south bank of Lake Balaton , who lived scattered in the various localities in the area. Until 1938 these people were looked after by the evangelical diaspora community in Kötcse . In 1939 the South Balaton Mission District was founded in which three cities and 10 village communities were united. During this time, the services were held in the "Red Chapel" built in 1756 in Balatonboglár. Between 1947 and 1950 there were no services in this area due to the political situation (rule of the communist dictatorship in Hungary). The “Red Chapel” was nationalized in 1962, so the Lutherans were allowed to use the Reformed Church (“Calvinists”).

Construction of the new church

Only after the political change was there the opportunity to finally build an Evangelical Lutheran Church in Balatonboglár. Donations were collected in many Hungarian communities for the construction, with the Gustav-Adolf-Werk making a significant contribution . In the early 1990s there was an architectural competition, which was won by the Hungarian architect Tamás Nagy (born June 4, 1951 in Csorna , † July 2, 2020 in Budapest ). The planning work was finished in 1994. Construction work began in 1995. The Lutheran pastor István Madarász, who himself was in charge of the construction of the new church after his retirement, made lasting contributions to the building. Construction work was completed in 1999, and construction work on the rectory was completed in 2000. The consecration of the Church took place on May 22, 1999 and was performed by Bishop D. Béla Harmati.

Architectural design

The church was built on the outskirts of Balatonboglár, at the foot of the 60 m high Boglar 'Schlossberg' (with a spherical observation tower as a landmark) which is a nature reserve. Only natural materials such as natural quarry stone and wood were used. The church was built as a rotunda and the 32 meter high round church tower is reminiscent of a lighthouse . The character of the church interior is dominated in the upper part by windows that allow a view of the trees in the nature reserve. And so the sacred space also becomes a part of nature created by God .

The furnishings are made of warm, light wood and the room is covered by a huge wooden dome made of the same material. The altar was designed - similar to the current situation in Catholic churches - towards the faithful, so that the pastor stands behind the altar (with his face turned towards the congregation) during the liturgy . There is a huge modern cross behind the altar. The benches - also made of light wood - offer space for 70 people.

Above the entrance there is a small gallery on which a small organ (1 manual , 4 stops ) was installed in 2001 by the Friedrich Paulus company, Budaörs . The organ was a gift from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary. In the church tower there are two bells (400 kg and 250 kg).

meaning

The new church building is undoubtedly one of the most successful modern church buildings in Hungary.

Since the diaspora situation in this area has not changed in the present, the parish of Balatonboglár with its modern church can be seen as the center of the Lutherans in this area. From Balatonboglár the surrounding communities Balatonszemes , Fonyód , Hács , Somogyvámos and in summer also Baladtonfenyves are looked after with pastoral care.

gallery

  • overall view

  • tower

  • Main entrance

  • inner space

  • dome

  • Viewing platform

Web links

Commons : Evangelical Church (Balatonboglár)  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kötcse is a village in Somogy County in Hungary. One of the three oldest Lutheran diaspora congregations in Hungary was established in Kötcse. The Protestant church was built there as early as 1798. The village is known as a summer holiday resort for its proximity to Lake Balaton and its good weather conditions. The place has 507 (2017) permanent residents.
  2. ↑ Tamás Nagy was the creator of numerous (mainly Protestant) church buildings in Hungary. In 1992 he was awarded the Nikolaus Ybl Prize ( Hungarian Ybl Miklos-díj ).
  3. ↑ István Madarász (born May 18, 1929 in Orosháza , † January 15, 2015 in Balatonboglár). After attending the Evangelical High School in his hometown, he studied theology in Ödenburg and was ordained a priest in 1952. In 1960 he married Erzsébet Gresó, with whom he had 55 happy years of marriage. In 1981 he came to Balatonboglár as a pastor, where he served until his retirement in 1996. He has made lasting contributions to the construction of the new Protestant church and the rectory in Balatonboglár.
  4. ↑ D. Béla Harmati (born April 23, 1936 in Ősagárd ) was bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church for the southern district of Hungary between 1987 and 2003.

Coordinates: 46 ° 46 ′ 44 "  N , 17 ° 39 ′ 33.8"  E