Gümligen Church

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Reformed Church Gümligen

The Gümligen Church is the church of the Muri-Gümligen parish of the Reformed Churches Bern-Jura-Solothurn in the Gümligen district of the Muri near Bern in the canton of Bern .

history

Already in the middle of the 19th century there was a desire in Gümligen for a local branch church service. A service was held every month in the Stürler's house. This is known because in 1862 Stürler's wife wanted an assurance from the local council that the services carried out in her house could be held in the schoolhouse after her death or departure. Since this request was met, the applicant donated 500 francs to the community for the school property.

In the following years the population grew and the burden on the pastor of Muri steadily increased. On April 29, 1938, the parish council decided to apply to the higher church authorities for a second pastorate. This was rejected on the grounds that the parish had not yet made any arrangements for the construction of the necessary church rooms. Therefore the parish council decided in 1941 to start planning a parish hall in Gümligen, for which a donation of 10,000 francs was received for the property in 1942. The Synodal Council wanted a church and not just a parish hall to be built in Gümligen. But he approved a position for a parish vicar. The position was filled on November 4, 1943 with VDM Hans Frank. At the same time, a building site for the church was acquired in the old village center of Gümligen. The vicariate was converted into a second parish office in 1948.

The project competition for the construction of the church, parish hall and rectory was announced in 1944. The first prize was won by Max Boehm , who was also commissioned to continue working on the entire project. After the plans had been adjusted, construction began on the rectory, which could be occupied in 1949. In 1950 the parish hall was inaugurated. A large village festival was held in September 1951 to raise funds for the church.

Construction of the church began on May 4, 1953. On October 28, 1953, the topping-out could be celebrated. The five bells of the Rüetschi foundry were wound on June 10, 1954. The church was consecrated on the 1st of Advent 1954. Between 1953 and 1964 she received stained glass windows by the Bernese glass painter Max Rudolf von Mühlenen . On the east side there are four windows to the Christmas festival circle , the choir window to the south shows the Song of Songs of Love (1 Corinthians 13) , and the four windows on the west side show Palm Sunday , Maundy Thursday and Good Friday . The communion table and the baptismal font adorned with reliefs were designed by the sculptor Max Fueter . The organ was supplied by the local company Wälti.

In the summer of 2008, the church tower, tower clock and bells were renovated. Thanks to the new electronics, the motors can be controlled very precisely. Since then, the bells have sounded quieter and more harmonious.

literature

  • Muri bei Bern, one municipality - two villages , self-published by the municipality of Muri bei Bern 1993 (no ISBN) s. 159-160
  • The new Wälti organ in the Gümligen church , self-published by the Muri-Gümligen parish 2003 (no ISBN)
  • Bells, Glass and Gümligen , self-published by Kirchgemeinde Muri-Gümligen 2004 (no ISBN)

Web links

Coordinates: 46 ° 56 '4.4 "  N , 7 ° 30' 42.9"  E ; CH1903:  605580  /  198166