Church district Blaufelden

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Basic data
Regional Church : Evangelical Church in Württemberg
Prelature : Heilbronn
Area : 443 km²
Structure: 31 parishes
Parishioners: 18,576 (December 31, 2017)
Address of the
Dean's Office :		 Main street 11
74572 Blaufelden
Dean : Siegfried Jahn
map
Location of the church district Blaufelden within the Evang. Regional Church in Württemberg

The Evangelical Church District Blaufelden is one of 44 church districts or church districts of the Evangelical Church in Württemberg . Its area is congruent with the Deanery Blaufelden.

geography

The church district of Blaufelden is located in the north of the Württemberg regional church. Its area includes the north of the Schwäbisch Hall district , i.e. the area of ​​the political cities and communities Blaufelden , Gerabronn , Kirchberg an der Jagst , Langenburg , Rot am See , Schrozberg and Wallhausen .

Neighboring church districts

The church district of Blaufelden borders the following church districts (starting clockwise in the southeast): Crailsheim , Schwäbisch Hall , Künzelsau and Weikersheim (all Heilbronn prelature). In the east it has a border with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria .

history

Before 1803, the area of ​​today's deanery or church district Blaufelden belonged to the historical Hohenlohe landscape , which was partly divided into several lines, as well as to the margraviate of Ansbach . The Reformation was introduced by the respective sovereigns until 1556 in the entire area of ​​today's Blaufelden deanery . The former Hohenlohe residence towns of Kirchberg an der Jagst and Langenburg, which became the seat of a superintendent (Kirchberg not until 1650), are located in the area. The General Consistory for Hohenlohe was in Öhringen . The Blaufelden area was part of the Crailsheim chapter. After the transition to Württemberg, Langenburg and Blaufelden were appointed dean for each seat of a Württemberg dean's office and the local pastor of Blaufelden and the city pastor of Langenburg, respectively. The formal establishment of the deanery in Blaufelden took place on November 23, 1810. The associated upper office was initially also located in Blaufelden. By ordinance of July 8, 1811, it was moved to Gerabronn (see: Upper office Gerabronn ). Both deaneries belonged to the Generalate Schwäbisch Hall since their foundation, after its dissolution they came to the Generalate (today Prelature) Heilbronn.

As a result of the dissolution of some districts or higher offices in Württemberg in 1939, the church administrative districts were also partially restructured. With effect from April 1, 1939, the parishes of Niederstetten, Sichertshausen, Oberstetten and Wildentierbach were reclassified into the Weikersheim parish. In return, the church district of Blaufelden received the parish of Ettenhausen from the church district of Künzelsau.

By church law of November 28, 1974, the deaneries and church districts of Blaufelden and Langenburg were merged into one church district with effect from January 1, 1976. By ordinance of May 2, 1975, it was given the name Evangelical Church District Blaufelden .

In 2012 the Eberbach parish was reclassified to the Künzelsau parish and the Ruppertshofen parish was reclassified to the KiBez Schwäbisch Hall in 2017.

Head of the church district

The church district is managed by the district synod , the church district committee (KBA) and the dean. The current dean since 2010 has been Siegfried Jahn (* 1959), who is also the pastor in Blaufelden .

Deans of the church district of Blaufelden since 1810

  • 1810–1811 Johann Heinrich August Welsch (pastor in Blaufelden since 1795)
  • 1811–1817 Ernst Christoph Mutschler
  • 1820–1828 Johann Christian Speier
  • 1829–1836 Ferdinand Ludwig Immanuel Dillenius
  • 1836–1838 Johann Christian Ludwig Franz Vogt
  • 1838–1841 Johann Erst Gleissberg
  • 1842–1848 Gottlob Heinrich Friedrich Scholl
  • 1849–1873 Karl Friedrich Klett
  • (1870–1873 Dean Raiffeisen von Langenburg and Pastor Cranz von Reubach took over the official business)
  • 1873–1879 Ludwig Ernst Osiander
  • 1880–1885 Jakob Christian Löffler
  • 1885–1891 Christian Friedrich Lang (1841–1913)
  • 1891–1897 Dr. Theodor Friedrich Köstlin (1845–1932)
  • 1898–1902 Hermann Eytel
  • 1902–1907 Christian Julius Schall
  • 1907–1911 Reinhold Vollmer (1866–1946)
  • 1912–1920 Theophil Laissle
  • 1921–1932 Gottlob Kröner (1867–1937)
  • 1932–1950 Dr. Otto Hohenstatt
  • 1950–1975 Herbert Lang (1901–1989)
  • 1976–1991 Gustav Rümelin (1927–1999)
  • 1992–2009 Emil Haag (* 1946)
  • 2010– Siegfried Jahn (* 1959)

Parishes

There are a total of 31 parishes in the church district of Blaufelden. Of these, nine parishes have merged to form three total parishes, but remain independent corporations under public law. The parish numbers given in brackets after the name of the parish relate to the year 2017 and have been rounded.

The area of ​​the church district mainly belonged to the historical Hohenlohe landscape and the Margraviate of Ansbach. The rulers in both areas introduced the Reformation early on. Therefore, the area is predominantly evangelical. There is therefore a Protestant parish and mostly an old church in almost every village. Most of the Catholics did not move to all places until after the Second World War.

Parish of Billingsbach

The parish of Billingsbach (approx. 420) includes the district of Billingsbach with the associated hamlets of the community of Blaufelden. Ecclesiastically, the place with the Raboldshausen branch was initially assigned to the parish of Bächlingen. In the 13th century Billingsbach became its own parish, which also included Ettenhausen, Herrentierbach and Riedbach. Via the Lords of Hertenstein and their heirs, the patronage of the church, which was probably consecrated to St. John, passed to Hohenlohe in 1446, who carried out the Reformation and assigned the parish to the Langenburg dean's office, to which it belonged until it merged with the Blaufelden church district. A tower with a domed roof and sacristy was later added to the early Gothic tower choir of the church. The nave was lengthened in 1725 and the roof raised. In 1964/66 the church was renovated. Two floors of the Gothic tower choir remain from the chapel, which was demolished in 1670 in the Raboldshausen branch.

The parish in Billingsbach also looks after the parish of Herrentierbach.

Parish of Blaufelden

The parish of Blaufelden (approx. 1,740) comprises the main town and the hamlets of Blaubach, Erpfersweiler, Niederweiler, Schuckhof and Wittenweiler of the parish of Blaufelden , whereby the Schuckhof was only assigned to the parish of Blaufelden by an announcement of the upper church council on October 13, 1955. Parts of this settlement previously belonged to the Rot am See parish.

The first church documents in Blaufelden can be linked to the castle of the Lords of Blaufelden, on which there was a chapel from 1280. The chapel consecrated to Saint Ulrich was looked after by the parish of neighboring Michelbach an der Heide. In 1362 the chapel was elevated to a parish church and a cemetery was created. In 1423 the construction of today's church began. The nave was finished in 1490, and the choir with the tower above it was built between 1502 and 1509. The church tower originally served as a defense tower. The first bell was installed during the construction period in 1505. The rulers, the margraves of Ansbach, carried out the Reformation from 1526. Then five galleries were built into the church. In 1835 a lightning strike set the spire on fire and destroyed it. During the reconstruction, the point was kept smaller and the characteristic handling added. In the 19th century, Blaufelden became the seat of a deanery, which since 1977 has also included the area of ​​the former deanery Langenburg.

Today's Blaufelden district of Wittenweiler belonged to the Michelbach an der Heide parish until the 14th century and then became part of the Blaufelden parish.

Brettheim parish

The parish of Brettheim (approx. 660) includes the district of Brettheim with the associated hamlets (excluding Hilgartshausen) of the municipality of Rot am See. The church of St. Peter and Paul was first mentioned in 1262. In 1379 it came to the Feuchtwangen Abbey. During the Reformation it came to the Margraviate of Ansbach. In the 18th century, the imperial city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber partially acquired sovereign rights. The church with a Romanesque tower choir from the 13th century was redesigned in the late Gothic period after several fires in 1528, 1658 and 1722 and completely rebuilt in 1911/12. The tower basements were preserved. Wall paintings are still preserved in the tower choir. The nave, sacristy and vestibule are modern. The former fortified cemetery is still recognizable. The Brettheim parish also looks after the neighboring parish of Hilgartshausen.

Parish Ettenhausen

The parish of Ettenhausen (approx. 380) comprises the districts of Ettenhausen and Bartenstein with their associated hamlets in the city of Schrozberg. Ecclesiastically, Ettenhausen initially belonged to the Billingsbach parish. In 1334 an existing chapel was raised to a parish church. At first Herrentierbach also belonged to it, and until the Thirty Years War, Riedbach also belonged to it. The church is halfway up the slope in the direction of Bartenstein. The tower still comes from the chapel, the nave was rebuilt in 1765.

Until 1933, the Ettenhausen parish and the Sichertshausen parish formed the Ettenhausen parish in the Künzelsau parish. Through the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on April 13, 1933, the parish of Sichertshausen was assigned to the parish of Niederstetten (at that time parish of Blaufelden), with which it has since formed the entire parish of Niederstetten. With effect from April 1, 1939, the Ettenhausen parish was reclassified to the Blaufelden parish and the Niederstetten parish with its two parishes Niederstetten and Sichertshausen to the Weikersheim parish.

Bartenstein always belonged to Ettenhausen. But the residents also had their own preaching place with the castle chapel. In 1667 the sovereigns, the Counts of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst, converted to Catholicism and then set up Catholic services in the castle chapel. However, they were unable to set up their own parish, but in 1716 they built their own church in the castle. It includes the north wing of the castle. The castle tower serves as the church tower. There were several disputes between the Protestant and Catholic residents, which reached their climax in the so-called "Easter dispute" from 1744 to 1750. At that time, Ansbach troops intervened and secured the rights of the Protestant residents.

The Ettenhausen parish also looks after the Riedbach parish.

General parish of Gaggstatt

The total parish consists of the parishes Beimbach, Gaggstatt and Mistlau

Parish of Beimbach

The parish of Beimbach (approx. 235) includes the district of Beimbach and the associated hamlets (including Bembergs) of the municipality of Rot am See. Ecclesiastically, the place was a branch of Michelbach an der Heide, then of Lendsiedel. Beimbach did not become its own parish until 1812, but was still looked after from Gerabronn. There has been a priest there since 1826. The church was first mentioned as the Bartholomäuskapelle in 1421. The old fortified church with cemetery dates from 1499. It was expanded in 1751 and renovated in 1802. The tower choir still has late Gothic tracery windows.

Gaggstatt parish

The parish of Gaggstatt (approx. 295) includes the Gaggstatt district with some of the surrounding hamlets of the town of Kirchberg an der Jagst (except Lobenhausen ). Ecclesiastically, the place initially belonged to Lendsiedel but had a chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross, which was first mentioned in 1453. After the Reformation in 1544, Gaggstatt became its own parish, to which the Mistlau and Niederimmern branches (Rot am See municipality) were assigned. Until the merger with Blaufelden it belonged to the parish of Langenburg. Hohenlohe-Kirchberg took over the patronage of the church. The late Gothic church was demolished in 1904 and replaced by a new double-towered building by Theodor Fischer. Inside there are Art Nouveau frescoes. Until its dissolution, the parish belonged to the parish of Langenburg.

Mistlau parish

The Mistlau parish (approx. 80) includes the Mistlau residential area in the Gaggstatt district of the city of Kirchberg an der Jagst. Mistlau was a church branch of Lendsiedel. After the Reformation, the place was assigned to the parish of Gaggstatt. The chapel of St. Nicholas from the beginning of the 15th century was enlarged in 1791. There is a roof turret above the east gable. In the vaulted choir, frescoes from the 15th century can be seen. There are also two wooden sculptures from the 15th century.

Gammesfeld-Hausen-Buch parish

The parish of Gammesfeld-Hausen-Buch (approx. 700) was founded on January 1, 2017 from the previous parishes of Gammesfeld (approx. 400), Hausen am Bach (approx. 240 members) and Buch (approx. 60 members). It includes the district of Gammesfeld with the associated hamlets of the municipality of Blaufelden and the district of Hausen am Bach and Buch with the associated hamlets of the municipality of Rot am See.

A church in Gammesfeld is mentioned as early as 1101. The patronage came to the Johanniterhaus Rothenburg ob der Tauber through the Lords of Bebenburg . The imperial city of Rothenburg introduced the Reformation by 1543. The parish church is a single nave tower choir from the 13th / 14th centuries. Century. It has Romanesque and Gothic windows and a ribbed vault in the choir.

In Hausen am Bach, a church of St. Magdalena was first mentioned in 1290. It belonged to the parish of Insingen (now part of Bavaria). In 1378 Hausen became its own parish. The patronage belonged to the Abbey of Oberzell near Würzburg, then to the Frauenkloster Hausen (today the Klosterhof residential area; however, the monastery was already secularized in 1532/45 and then went under completely) and finally to St. Gumbert in Ansbach. After the Reformation the church belonged to Ansbach and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. In 1641 the parish was connected to Reubach, 1647/50 with Insingen. Today's church is a single-nave late Gothic tower choir from the early 16th century. It was changed in 1639/45 and 1711. The church has a barrel vault and a late Gothic crucifix.

A chapel consecrated to St. Martin in Buch came to the St. Gumbert Abbey in Ansbach in 1245. In 1528 it was reformed by Ansbach. In 1810, Buch was assigned to the parish of Hausen am Bach, to which the parish still belongs to this day. The small church was originally a single-nave choir tower from the 13th / 14th centuries. Century with early Gothic windows and Romanesque choir arch. The tower was later demolished. The small altar shrine with carved wings dates from the 16th century.

General parish of Gerabronn

The entire parish of Gerabronn was newly founded on January 1, 2017 from the parishes of Amlishagen, Dünsbach, Gerabronn and Michelbach.

Amlishagen parish

Evang. Gerabronn-Amlishagen church

The Amlishagen parish (approx. 240) includes the Amlishagen district of the city of Gerabronn. A church is first mentioned in 1403. It was a subsidiary of Michelbach an der Heide and was elevated to a parish church in 1453. In 1519 it is given as Katharinenkirche and in 1536 Ansbach introduced the Reformation. After many years of disputes between the manor over the church's patronage rights, Hohenlohe was decided in 1788. In 1760 the church burned down. Today's Katharinenkirche was rebuilt in 1762/63 on behalf of the castle and patron saint Gottfried Freiherr vom Holtz by the Count of Hohenlohe court carpenter Leonhard Joseph Ernst from Kirchberg / Jagst in the margrave style as a late baroque church. The rectangular ship has a west tower that merges into an octagon at the top and has a French hood. Inside the church there is a so-called Ansbacher pulpit wall (Markgräfler wall) made of wood and stucco marble in a high cross shape. It consists of an altar, pulpit, organ loft and parterre doors for the walk around the altar at the reception of the Lord's Supper. The Katharinenkirche contains a north and south pore as well as a west gallery with a former patronage room or rulership with the coat of arms of the Lords of Holtz, a crypt and several individual graves in the floor as well as Johannes Allgeyer's organ from 1763. After the transition to Württemberg, the parish came to the dean's office in Crailsheim in 1810, and later to the dean's office in Blaufelden. In 1841 Unterweiler (now a hamlet in the core town of Gerabronn) was assigned to the Amlishagen parish.

As a special church feature, the Amlishagen parish celebrates the hail holiday every year with a church service. August 1st (always on this day?)

Parish of Dünsbach

The parish of Dünsbach (approx. 385) includes the district of Dünsbach and the associated hamlets of the city of Gerabronn. Ecclesiastically the place belonged first to Bächlingen, then to Ruppertshofen. The Reformation was introduced in 1534. In 1688 the Lords of Crailsheim established their own parish for Dünsbach. The castle chapel at Morstein served as the parish church until it burned out in 1969. The parish was subordinate to the superintendent in Kirchberg an der Jagst and belonged to the Deanery of Langenburg in Württemberg until it merged with Blaufelden. After its dissolution it came to the church district of Blaufelden. After the fire in 1969, a new building was built in 1973 by the Stuttgart architect Johannes Wetzel (1926–2006). The wife of the architect and artist Gertrud Angelika Wetzel artistically designed the altar and the south wall window with colored concrete glass (wavy lines) as well as the altar, font and pulpit in shell limestone and cast aluminum.

Gerabronn parish

Evang. Gerabronn Church

The parish of Gerabronn (approx. 1,460) includes the core town of Gerabronn with the associated hamlets (excluding Unterweiler). A chapel Peter and Paul was built in 1423. The Lords of Berlichingen founded a chaplain on it, which belonged to the parish of Michelbach an der Heide. In 1461 it was raised to an independent parish. In place of the chapel, architect Leopoldo Retti built today's Peter and Paul Church in the Querkirchen concept as an almost square hall in the margrave style, based on plans by master builder Johann David Steingruber . The typical pulpit-altar organ wall was in the west on the tower side, opposite the patron's box. The demands for a modernized worship service led to a complete redesign of the interior in 1967. The commissioned architect Peter Haag from Schorndorf had not only both galleries removed, but also the pulpit wall, the modest gem of the church, and the transverse church concept. The altar and pulpit are now placed in a modern form on the south wall. The local artist Werner Grund created a symbolic wall mosaic in 1971, which takes up the center of the altar cross again and wants to clarify the rays emanating from there. The artist Winfried Richter from Gerabronn-Morstein created acrylic-based murals in 1995, tone on tone with the wall color, with the namesake of the church, Peter and Paul. From the time before the interior redesign, there is still the color-glazed round window (1933) by the expressionist artist Ernst H. Graeser with a representation of Christ.

The hamlet of Rückershagen has always been part of Gerabronn's church. The St. Wendelin Chapel, first mentioned in 1499, is a late Gothic choir tower and has a cross-rib vaulted choir. The building shows that both the tower and the ship used to be higher. The dividing wall between tower and nave contains Romanesque envy faces on the outside, the Gothic windows in the nave are partly walled up in the pointed arches, partly with tracery or decorative arches.

Church community Michelbach an der Heide

The parish of Michelbach an der Heide (approx. 310) includes the Michelbach an der Heide district with the associated hamlets of the city of Gerabronn. A church was first mentioned in a document around 1230. But it is probably much older. The founders were probably the diocese of Fulda, which was the patron saint. Later it was transferred to Neumünster in Würzburg. The parish included the entire area. Starting in 1362, parishes of their own were gradually established, for example in Blaufelden in 1362, Amlishagen in 1453 and Gerabronn in 1561. The Margraviate of Ansbach introduced the Reformation in 1528. In the time of Württemberg, the parish of Michelbach an der Heide belonged to the Deanery Langenburg and with the merger it came to the Deanery Blaufelden. The church of St. Bonifatius and Burkhard in the walled cemetery is early Gothic with a Romanesque rectangular choir (Gothic tracery east window, hidden inside by the large choir organ), an additional very small apse and tooth-cut friezes on the east gable verges and the cornice . It has a Baroque pulpit from 1683. The ship was rebuilt in 1914/15 by the architect Theodor Dolmetsch and in the north-western corner between the west tower and the nave, a round stair tower was added for access to the gallery.

Parish of Heiligenbronn

The parish of Heiligenbronn (approx. 2275) includes the Heiligenbronn residential area in the Spielbach district of the city of Schrozberg. A church in Heiligenbronn was burned down in 1449 by the Ansbacher family. It belonged to the imperial city of Rothenburg. A chapel of St. Sebastian is mentioned in 1568. It was a branch of Leuzenbronn. The patronage was the Comburg. In 1810 a separate parish was formed, but it was merged with Spielbach. In the 20th century the parish was abolished. However, Heiligenbronn remained an independent parish, which is looked after by the Spielbach parish until today. The church has a cross-vaulted choir in the east tower. It dates from the 14th century.

Hengstfeld parish

The parish of Hengstfeld (approx. 530) includes the district of Hengstfeld of the community of Wallhausen. A parish church of St. Lambert was first mentioned in 1285. The patronage belonged to Comburg, then Würzburg, who gave it to the lords of Crailsheim and von Wollmershausen as a fief. The parish church was destroyed several times by fire. The current fire dates from 1837. Only the lower part of the former choir tower has been preserved from the previous building. In 1901 the tower was raised.

Since the Reformation, the parish has been celebrating the so-called hail holiday on July 13th with a church service as the harvest holiday.

Parish of Herrentierbach

The parish of Herrentierbach (approx. 290) comprises the district of Herrentierbach of the community of Blaufelden and the district of Simprechtshausen of the community of Mulfingen (Hohenlohekreis). Ecclesiastically, Herrentierbach first belonged to Billingsbach, then to Ettenhausen. In 1445 the chapel of St. Maria was elevated to a parish church. In 1910 the neighboring parish of Riedbach was affiliated. Today the parish of Herrentierbach is looked after by the parish of Billingsbach again. Until the merger with the church district Blaufelden, the parish of Herrentierbach belonged to the church district Langenburg.

Simprechtshausen remained Catholic after the Reformation. Most of the Protestant residents who moved there only after the Second World War were initially assigned to the Hollenbach parish in the Künzelsau church district. However, through the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on January 9, 1958, they were reclassified to the parish of Herrentierbach and thus also changed the church district (at that time still Langenburg).

Hilgartshausen parish

The Hilgartshausen parish (approx. 130) includes the Hilgartshausen district of the Rot am See parish. Ecclesiastically, the place always belonged to Brettheim. But he has his own church and still forms its own parish today. The Nikolauskirche was probably built around 1000 as a chapel. The current church is from the 13th century with a choir and ribbed vault from the 14th century. The ship has a high Gothic beam ceiling. Inside there are two winged altars from the late 15th century. The parish of Hilgartshausen is still looked after by the parish of Brettheim.

Kirchberg an der Jagst parish

The parish of Kirchberg an der Jagst (approx. 1,070) comprises the core town of Kirchberg an der Jagst and the Hornberg district . The nucleus of today's parish is the Marienkapelle within Kirchberg Castle. A pastor was named for the first time in 1285, but the place initially belonged to the parish of Lendsiedel. From 1395 there was a chaplaincy. The Hohenloher family received the patronage from 1313. In the 14th century the Marienkapelle became a pilgrimage church. In 1524/25 the Reformation was introduced and in 1577/78 Kirchberg became its own parish, which was moved to the city in 1611. At the same time a new church was built here, but it was demolished again in 1740 and replaced by the current building. The city wall and an old defense tower were included. It was furnished in baroque style, but burned out in 1929.

Hornberg was an independent parish until 2012. After the Reformation, the place belonged to the parish of Lendsiedel, but had its own preaching place with the castle chapel. In 1588 Hornberg became its own parish, but it was partly looked after from Gaggstatt. In 1750 Hornberg became a branch of Gröningen and in 1868 of Kirchberg an der Jagst. Today's church is a simple building from 1873.

Parish of Langenburg

Evang. City Church Langenburg

The parish of Langenburg (approx. 1,125) includes the city of Langenburg .

Ecclesiastically, Langenburg initially belonged to Bächlingen, but in 1553 it became the seat of the Bächlinger parish, especially since the pastor of Bächlingen had lived in Langenburg since 1500. In 1576 Bächlingen again had its own parish, and in 1579 a parish for Unterregenbach was also separated. As the Hohenlohe royal seat, Langenburg was the seat of a superintendent who was also court preacher. He was responsible for the offices of Langenburg, Döttingen and until 1650 also for Kirchberg an der Jagst. The church dates back to a pilgrimage chapel dedicated to the Holy Blood in the late 15th century. The late Gothic choir with net rib vault is joined by the nave with a tower from 1610. In 1680 it was rebuilt again. The choir has old Nuremberg glass windows from 1499 and 1505/07. The wooden ceiling was painted in 1680. There are also several tombs of the Hohenlohe counts and their officials.

A church in Bächlingen is mentioned for the first time in 1285. It is believed to be the oldest church in the entire area. Presumably the parishes of Michelbach an der Heide, Billingsbach and Obersteinach were separated from the parish of Bächlingen before the year 1000, and later other places were separated. In 1553 the Reformation was introduced in the place that had previously belonged to Neumünster Abbey in Würzburg. The parish seat was then moved to Langenburg, but Bächlingen received its own parish again in 1576 under Hohenlohe, which belonged to the Langenburg deanery until it merged with Blaufelden. Today's St. John 's Church dates from the 14th century. It has a tower choir with rib cross vaults and a mural from 1320 to 1340. The late Gothic nave has a half-timbered structure from 1580. In 1721 it was renewed.

The place Unterregenbach is probably a very old settlement that had a three-aisled basilica that was destroyed by fire in the first half of the 13th century and then abandoned. The church's crypt is still preserved in today's rectory. Today's parish church was built north of the basilica around 1480, instead of a small basilica built around 1050, i.e. H. there were two churches side by side until the 13th century. In 1581 the parish church got its present appearance. If it was previously consecrated to St. Mary, in 1487 it was consecrated to St. Vitus. The patrons were the von Langenburg and then the Hohenloher family. The presence of two churches proves that there must have been a monastery in Unterregenbach. A manor was also close to him. But both were given up in favor of Langenburg after the fire disaster. Unterregenbach remained an insignificant hamlet, but it still had market rights until around 1700. The parish Unterregenbach received Oberregenbach in 1579. Both places always belonged to Langenburg, but remained their own parish and formed the parish of Unterregenbach, which was also part of the Langenburg parish until it merged with the Blaufelden parish.

As of January 1, 2012, the three parishes of Langenburg, Bächlingen and Unterregenbach initially formed a single parish and merged on January 1, 2017 to form the Evangelical Parish of Langenburg.

Lendsiedel parish

The parish of Lendsiedel (approx. 780) includes the Lendsiedel district with the associated hamlets of the town of Kirchberg an der Jagst. A church was first mentioned in Lendsiedel in 1231, from 1245 St Pankratius, from 1489 St Stephan. The patronage was owned by the Zähringer who donated it to Backnang Abbey in 1231, from where it was exchanged for Württemberg in 1350. In the 15th century it belonged to the Lords of Vellberg and from 1563 it belonged to Hohenlohe. The parish included the entire area from Beimbach to Triensbach. However, their own parishes were gradually established. Today's church in Lendsiedel has a Romanesque west tower from 1245 and a late Gothic nave from 1511. The choir with organ dates from 1702. Inside are its stone pulpit from 1517 and several tombs from the 16th to the 16th century. See 18th century. Until the merger with the church district of Blaufelden, the parish of Lendsiedel belonged to the church district of Langenburg.

Until 1938, the hamlet of Buch in the then Triensbach community also belonged to the Lendsiedel parish. By announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on March 11, 1938, this hamlet was assigned to the Triensbach parish in the Crailsheim church district.

Parish of Leuzendorf

The parish of Leuzendorf (approx. 340) includes the Leuzendorf district with most of the associated hamlets of the city of Schrozberg. In terms of church, Leuzendorf was initially a branch of Leuzenbronn (now part of Bavaria). In 1346 the St. Alban's Chapel was elevated to a parish church. The patronage was held by Neumünster Abbey in Würzburg, then the imperial city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The church was rebuilt in 1346, the nave is from 1729. The church was renovated in 1796 and renewed in 1951. The tower, which was partially destroyed in the Second World War, was restored.

In the associated hamlet of Gemmhagen there is a St. Maria chapel, which was first mentioned in 1340 and renovated in 1701.

Church community Michelbach an der Lücke

The parish of Michelbach an der Lücke (approx. 380) includes the district Michelbach an der Lücke of the municipality of Wallhausen. A church was first mentioned in 1285. The patronage was held by the Fulda monastery, later the local lords. Ansbach introduces the Reformation, which the Counts of Schwarzenberg tried to prevent. In 1812 the parish was abolished and merged with Reubach, but the place formed its own parish, which was incorporated into the Reubach parish by decree of March 9, 1976. The current church was built in 1726.

Reubach parish as a whole

The total parish of Reubach includes the parishes of Reubach and Kleinansbach.

Reubach parish

The parish Reubach (approx. 240) includes the district Reubach with the associated residential areas of the parish Rot am See. In terms of church, Reubach initially belonged to Brettheim. But already in 1326 a chapel, from 1340 to Our Lady, is named, which was provided by a chaplain. In 1380 the church was raised to a parish, to which all living spaces except Kleinansbach belonged. Initially the parish was incorporated into Feuchtwangen Abbey, but came to Ansbach through the Reformation in 1530. From there it was supplied from Brettheim until 1660. From 1812 Reubach also looked after the neighboring town of Michelbach an der Lücke, but the town formed its own parish, which was incorporated into the Reubach parish by decree of March 9, 1976. Today's church in Reubach is a late Gothic choir tower church with a rib vaulted choir and nave from 1589, which was rebuilt in 1959. The tower of the church was destroyed in 1945 and rebuilt in 1950.

Parish of Kleinansbach

The parish of Kleinansbach (approx. 650) includes the Kleinansbach residential area in the Reubach district of the Rot am See community. Ecclesiastically, Kleinansbach belonged to the parish of Insingen, but there was a branch church called St. Nikolauskirche in 1433. However, it is much older and was probably built as a Romanesque choir tower in the 12th century. The church, which was changed several times, was given a wooden field ceiling in the 18th century. Kleinansbach initially formed a branch parish of Reubach. By order of March 9, 1976, the branch relationship with the Reubach parish was dissolved and Kleinansbach became an independent parish.

Riedbach parish

The parish of Riedbach (approx. 115) includes the district of Riedbach with the associated hamlets of the city of Schrozberg. Ecclesiastically Riedbach belonged first to Billingsbach, then to Ettenhausen, from whose parish the parish of Riedbach is looked after again today. In between, Riedbach had its own parish from 1630 and from 1916 the place belonged to Herrentierbach. The tower choir with ribbed vaults still comes from the old chapel in Riedbach. The ship was built in 1762. The church houses a crucifixion group from 1684. Until it merged with the Blaufelden parish, the Riedbach parish was part of the Langenburg parish.

Parish of Rot am See

The parish Rot am See (approx. 1,800) includes the main town of the parish Rot am See with some associated hamlets, e.g. B. Brettenfeld and Musdorf. The church was in the 12./13. Built in the 18th century and later changed several times. It was first mentioned in 1285 as St. Martin's Church. The patronage belonged as a Würzburg fiefdom to the Lords of Lobenhausen, then the Counts of Flügelau, and finally the Hohenlohern. In 1478 the place Musdorf and after the Reformation in 1528 the places Kühnhard and Limbach were incorporated into the parish. The church with a Gothic west portal has a baptismal font from 1606.

In Musdorf there is an early Gothic St. Michael chapel with a cross-ribbed tower choir, which was later rebuilt. It originally belonged to the parish of Schmalfelden and since 1478 to Rot am See. Since 1812 Oberzüge has also belonged to the parish Rot am See, previously to Beimbach.

Parish of Schainbach

The Schainbach parish (approx. 100) includes the Schainbach residential area in the main town of Wallhausen . The place probably received its own parish from Crailsheim in 1405. After the Reformation in 1528, the place was looked after from Wallhausen, to which the Schainbach parish today belongs again. The church in Schainbach, handed down as St. Jacob's Church from 1477, is Romanesque with a rib-vaulted tower choir. The ship was rebuilt in 1721 and given late baroque stucco . The winged altar inside dates from around 1500 and shows reliefs of Mary and other saints. Furthermore, several tombs of the Lords of Seckendorff can be seen.

Parish of Schmalfelden

The parish of Schmalfelden (approx. 350) includes the Schmalfelden district with the associated hamlets of the city of Schrozberg. A church in Schmalfelden was first mentioned in 1285. From 1489 it is called St. Laurentius Church. It belonged to Neumünster Abbey in Würzburg. After the Reformation, Ansbach had ecclesiastical rights, but Neumünster Abbey still retained the right to confirm. There has been a chaplaincy since 1483, which was converted into a parish during the Reformation. The church with its Romanesque tower choir was changed to the Gothic style. The barrel-vaulted choir has newly uncovered frescoes. The ship was enlarged in the shape of a cross in 1855. In 1964/65 the church received an asymmetrical ceiling. Until the merger with the church district of Blaufelden, the parish of Schmalfelden belonged to the church district of Langenburg.

Parish of Schrozberg

The parish of Schrozberg (approx. 1,970) comprises the core town with the associated hamlets of the town of Schrozberg . In terms of church, Schrozberg initially belonged to Oberstetten, but had a church that was called St. Simon and Judas Church from 1453. Schrozberg probably had his own pastor from 1464 onwards. The Reformation was only hesitant to take hold. Until 1571 the Ansbach and then the Hohenlohe church order was in effect. The current church was built in 1614. The tower choir of the previous church of the 14./15. Century retained. The choir has a ribbed vault, the nave has a flat stucco ceiling. Until 1828 there was also a chapel, in which services were still celebrated until 1748. The chapel was demolished in 1828. Until the merger with the church district of Blaufelden, the parish of Schrozberg belonged to the church district of Langenburg.

In the associated hamlet of Krailshausen there is a branch church in a walled churchyard. The originally Romanesque church has been changed several times. Wall paintings can be seen in the ribbed vault of the tower choir and on the north wall of the nave.

Parish of Spielbach

The parish of Spielbach (approx. 195) includes the district of Spielbach with the associated hamlets (excluding Heiligenbronn) of the city of Schrozberg. In terms of church, Spielbach was initially a branch of Leuzenbronn (today part of Bavaria). A chapel of St. Eucharius was built around 1450, which was elevated to parish church in 1504. The ship was rebuilt in 1871. In the late Gothic tower choir of the church, frescoes were found during the renovation in 1970/71, and the church was given a ribbed ceiling. The Spielbach parish also looks after the neighboring parish of Heiligenbronn.

Wallhausen parish

The parish of Wallhausen (approx. 1,240) includes the main town and some associated hamlets of the community of Wallhausen . A church was first mentioned in 1285. A parish church of St. Veit was mentioned as early as 1143 and was given to the Odenheim monastery. It could not be proven whether this is the church in Wallhausen. The patronage of the parish church from 1285 was owned by the Anhausen Monastery and, after the Reformation, in 1532 by Ansbach. The parish was linked several times with Schainbach, which is now looked after by the Wallhausen parish office. Today's Wallhausen parish church was rebuilt in 1852. The Gothic tower choir and the walled churchyard are still preserved.

Wiesenbach parish

The parish Wiesenbach (approx. 700) includes the district Wiesenbach with the associated hamlets (including Engelhardshausen) of the parish of Blaufelden. Ecclesiastically the place belonged to Brettheim first. After the Reformation, Wiesenbach became its own parish around 1530. The church consecrated to St. Ulrich was first mentioned as a chapel in 1350. The tower choir with cross ribbed vault dates from the 14th century. The half-timbered nave was probably increased in the 16th century.

Engelhardshausen formed its own branch parish until 1933, which was repealed by the notice of the Upper Church Council on July 6, 1933 and merged with the mother parish of Wiesenbach. The church in Engelhardshausen, dedicated to St. Leonhard, stands on a hill above the hamlet. The former pilgrimage church has a long, late Gothic choir with a ribbed vault. The ship with the arched portal dates from 1555.

literature

  • The Evangelical Württemberg - Its church offices and clergy from the Reformation to the present, collected and edited by Christian Sigel, pastor in Gebersheim, 1910
  • The state of Baden-Wuerttemberg - official description according to districts and municipalities (in eight volumes); Edited by the Baden-Württemberg State Archives Department; Volume IV: Stuttgart District - Regional Associations Franconia and East Wuerttemberg, Stuttgart 1980, ISBN 3-17-005708-1 .

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