Johanneskirche (Crailsheim)
The Johanneskirche in Crailsheim is a three-aisled church , built between 1398 and 1440 and consecrated to John the Baptist , which is now used by a Protestant community.
history
Building history
Construction of the church began on February 22, 1398 and was completed by 1440. The previous Romanesque building was not demolished beforehand, rather it was "rebuilt" until the walls of the new nave were about 2 m high. The old building, which had been in use for so long, was only demolished afterwards; some of the stones were used to build the Gothic successor.
In the first construction phase, the tower, choir and sacristy were built. In the second, the foundation was laid, the nave was bricked up to a height of about 2 m and then the previous building was removed. In the third, the gap left free for the demolition of the old building on the north side was closed and the Gothic nave was completed.
Because the roof structure was still completely missing, the consecration in 1440 could only take place under temporary roofs over the nave and choir. Dendrochronological age determinations showed that today's roof structures were built in 1454 (choir) and 1457 (nave).
After the church tower fire in 1643, the tower was given its Welsche dome with a lantern .
War damage 1945
In contrast to most other buildings in Crailsheim, the Johanneskirche suffered only minor damage during the Second World War. Most painful was the loss of the painted choir windows, which, like all other church windows, fell victim to the Battle of Crailsheim . Many doors were also damaged; most of them could not be closed after the war. Half of the roof was covered and rain could penetrate the church. The water destroyed the plaster ceilings of the choir and aisles. Fortunately, since some parishioners dared to go up on the roof and made makeshift repairs, there was no further damage worth mentioning.
organ
The dean of Crailsheim, Michael Theodosius Seld , who died in 1702, left a generous legacy to build an organ. First negotiations were conducted in 1705 with the organ builder Johann Christoph Leo from Augsburg . However, this chord was canceled for presumably financial reasons that have not been passed down.
Allgeyer organ (1709)
Under the expert guidance of the Ansbach organist Abdias Schneider , a contract with the "famous" organ maker Johann Georg Allgeyer the Elder was signed on September 9, 1706 . Ä. closed from Hofen bei Aalen . This envisaged the erection of a "beautiful, handsome organ" on the west gallery. An instrument with 22 registers on two manuals ( Hauptwerk with twelve registers and Rückpositiv with seven registers) and a pedal with three registers were planned. The main work should be 24 shoes (7.20 meters) high and 16 shoes (4.80 m) wide, the Rückpositiv 11 shoes (3.30 m) high and 9 shoes (2.70 m) wide.
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There were also manual and pedal couplings , tremulants and a cymbal star . The manuals should cover four whole octaves , the pedal 19 steps. The keys were made of ivory and ebony . The winch should consist of six bellows of 8 shoes each (2.40 m).
The five-axis prospect is defined by two mighty outer towers that are connected to the central tower via two-storey intermediate fields. A mock-up of an upper structure has been inserted above this low central zone in order to create a harmonious overall picture. The tower roofs are supported by Corinthian round columns. Broken segment gables with trumpet-blowing angels serve as attachments. In the middle, Archangel Michael is fighting a dragon . The acanthus work is strikingly toothed and decorated with numerous angels. In its current state, the Rückpositiv forms a subpositive in front of the lower case. Its three-part prospectus is also structured by sturdy columns and decorated with carvings of thistles . The coats of arms of Brandenburg and Württemberg can be found on the more pronounced outer towers . An inscription plaque commemorates the founder.
According to the wording of the contract for 900 guilders, Allgeyer was responsible for all work in connection with the organ building. This included the production of the bellows, the windchest , the prospectus including all columns, cornices, figures, pictures and ornaments as well as the acquisition of all materials. The only exceptions were the painting and gilding of the organ prospectus. This was designed by the Würzburg painter Johann Mey .
The young organist Johann Christoph Faber from Crailsheim helped build the organ . A long-term acquaintance developed between him and Allgeyer.
He was to build the organ within a year "as accurately and nicely as necessary", and also "with the best of diligence that he would pass it with fame when it was viewed in the future". Allgeyer was unable to meet this far too short deadline. The organ was finally inaugurated on August 15, 1709. The old organ remained in the Johanneskirche until 1745 and was then sold to Mariäkappel for 200 guilders .
The Crailsheim organ is still believed to be the largest organ in Allgeyer.
Walcker organ (1967)
In 1864, the previously unchanged organ was extensively rebuilt by Eberhard Friedrich Walcker . The Rückpositiv was cleared and the entire organ modernized and rearranged.
Using the original body of the Allgeyer organ, a new, larger organ was built in 1967 by the Ludwigsburg organ building company EF Walcker & Cie. built-in. The Rückpositiv case was used as a swellable subpositive. The new organ has 39 registers on three manuals and a pedal. The disposition is as follows:
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- Coupling : II / I, III / I, III / II, I / P, II / P, III / P
- Zimbelstern
- Playing aids : 3 free combinations, 2 free pedal combinations, tongues off, crescendo roller
literature
- 600 years Johanneskirche Crailsheim. History and stories . Self-published by the Evangelische Johanneskirchengemeinde, Crailsheim 1998
- GP Fehring and G. Stachel, Archaeological Investigations in the City Church of St. John the Baptist in Crailsheim , in: Die Johanneskirche zu Crailsheim, 1967, 28 ff.
Web links
- The Johanneskirche at the Evangelical Johannesgemeinde Crailsheim
Individual evidence
- ^ Karlheinz Bauer: The Allgeyer family of organ builders in Hofen and Wasseralfingen . In: Geschichts- und Altertumsverein Aalen eV (Ed.): Aalener Jahrbuch 1986. Konrad Theiss Verlag, Stuttgart / Aalen 1986, pp. 62–90, here: pp. 74, 76.
- ^ Organ in Crailsheim , accessed on March 1, 2018.
Coordinates: 49 ° 8 ′ 5.5 ″ N , 10 ° 4 ′ 13.5 ″ E