Church district Crailsheim

Basic data
Regional Church :	Evangelical Church in Württemberg
Prelature :	Heilbronn
Area :	424 km²
Structure:	30 parishes
Parishioners:	approx. 28,773 (December 31, 2017)
Address of the Dean's Office :	Kirchplatz 5 74564 Crailsheim
Dean	Friederike Wagner
map

The Evangelical Church District Crailsheim is one of 44 church districts or church districts of the Evangelical Church in Württemberg . Its area is congruent with the dean's office in Crailsheim.

geography

The church district Crailsheim is located in the north of the Württemberg regional church. Its area includes the southeast of the district of Schwäbisch Hall , i.e. the area of ​​the political cities and communities Crailsheim , Fichtenau , Frankenhardt , Kreßberg , Satteldorf and Stimpfach as well as the community Jagstzell , most of the community Rosenberg and some hamlets of the community Ellenberg (all Ostalbkreis ).

Neighboring church districts

The church district Crailsheim borders in the south on the church district Aalen ( prelature Ulm ), in the west on the church districts Gaildorf and Schwäbisch Hall and in the north on the church district Blaufelden (all prelature Heilbronn). In the east it has a border with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria .

history

Evang. Johanneskirche Crailsheim

Evang. Johanneskirche Crailsheim - interior view

Before 1803, the area of ​​today's deanery or church district Crailsheim belonged mainly to the Margraviate of Ansbach, which became Prussian in 1791. Some places also belonged to the imperial city of Schwäbisch Hall. The sovereigns introduced the Reformation early on, so that the area is predominantly evangelical. Soon after the Reformation, Crailsheim became the seat of an Ansbach deanery. After the transition to Württemberg, the city became the seat of a Württemberg dean's office in 1810, which initially belonged to the Ulm Generalate, and in 1823 to the Schwäbisch Hall Generalate . After its dissolution in 1913, the Heilbronn Generalate came to be, from which today's Heilbronn Prelature emerged. The office of dean has long been associated with the pastor's office at the Crailsheim town church.

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 has been Winfried Dalferth since 2008 , who is also one of the pastors at the Johanneskirche in Crailsheim .

Deans of the parish

• 1779–1811: Johann Jakob Wilhelm Voigt, until 1810 consistorial councilor or district dean under the Ansbach or Bavarian regiment
• 1811–1827: Johann Heinrich August Welsch
• 1828–1850: Johann Christian Speier
• 1851–1862: Hermann Adolf von Stock (1809–1871)
• 1862–1867: Ferdinand Gustav Ludwig Georg Ernst Keerl
• 1867–1871: Carl Christian Gottlieb von Burk (1827–1904)
• 1871–1890: Gottlieb Heinrich Beckh
• 1890–1902: Karl Christian Hole (1837–1903)
• 1903–1926: Christian Friedrich Hummel (1861–1946)
• 1926–1931: Adolf Dörrfuß (1875–1948)
• 1932–1950: Otto Matthes (1880–1961)
• 1950–1969: Hans Pfähler (1902–1982)
• 1969–1981: Hans Lachenmann (* 1927)
• 1982–1993: Theo Engels (1929–)
• 1993–2008: Peter Pfitzenmaier (* 1942)
• Since 2008: Winfried Dalferth (* 1953)
• Since 2017: Friederike Wagner (* 1959)

Parishes

There are a total of 30 parishes in the Crailsheim church district. Four of these parishes have merged to form a total of two 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 2005 and have been rounded.

The area of ​​the church district Crailsheim belonged predominantly to the margraviate of Ansbach. The sovereigns 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. In most places Catholics did not move in until after the Second World War.

Altenmünster parish

The parish Altenmünster (approx. 2,550) comprises the Altenmünster district of the city of Crailsheim. Altenmünster was a residential area of ​​the Ingersheim community until 1940 and was incorporated into Crailsheim with it. A pastor is mentioned in Altenmünster as early as 1285. The patronage came to Hohenlohe via Ellwangen. A church was built in 1444. It was demolished in 1730 and replaced by today's Peter and Paul Church by 1731. The rectangular hall with west tower received an organ from Johann Georg Allgeyer the Elder in 1752 . J. from Hofen . Due to strong growth in the 1950s and 1960s, the Peter and Paul Church became too small, so that in 1973 another church, the Peace Church, was built. After that, the “old church” was almost unused for a long time. However, it was able to be renovated from 1993 to 1996 both inside and out. Since then it has been used for weddings, smaller church services and the Saturday prayer for peace.

The Friedenskirche is the center of the community today. It is a spacious community center with an integrated church. The church has a new organ from the company Mühleisen from Leonberg, which was inaugurated on May 28, 2000.

Until 1953, the Rotmühle residential area also belonged to the Altenmünster parish. By announcement of the upper church council of April 14, 1953, this was assigned to the parish of Ingersheim.

Bernhardsweiler parish

The parish of Bernhardsweiler (approx. 140) includes the Bernhardsweiler residential area in the Lautenbach district of the Fichtenau community. Bernhardsweiler initially belonged to Weidelbach. A pilgrimage church of St. Anna was built from 1511, but was never completed after the Reformation. Only the tower, the choir without vaults and the late Gothic tracery windows were completed, so that the building that had been started was temporarily completed and the triumphal arch was bricked up. From 1749 two church services were held annually. In 1811 the church became a branch chapel of Wildenstein and from 1892, after the interior was improved, services were held every two weeks. From 1922 a vicar performed his duties in Bernhardsweiler, so that church services could be celebrated every Sunday. The parish of Bernhardsweiler was looked after by the Wildenstein parish until September 2005, since then by the Unterdeufstetten parish.

Parish Bronnholzheim

The parish of Bronnholzheim (approx. 200) includes the hamlet of Bronnholzheim in the Gröningen district of the Satteldorf community. A chapel dedicated to Our Lady was first mentioned in 1492. It was always a branch of Gröningen, but forms its own parish. The choir tower from the 15th century has a ribbed vault and a tower that was partially renovated in 1709. The ship was built in 1759. The parish of Bronnholzheim is still looked after by the Gröningen parish.

General parish Crailsheim

The entire parish of Crailsheim (approx. 8,400) includes the core city of Crailsheim . It was formed with effect from December 5, 1971, when the hitherto sole parish Crailsheim was divided into the two parishes Johanneskirchengemeinde Crailsheim and Christuskirchengemeinde Crailsheim and these in turn merged into the overall parish Crailsheim. In a letter dated July 8, 1971, the Ministry of Education recognized the entire parish and the two parishes as corporations under public law.

Christ Parish Crailsheim

The Christ parish Crailsheim (approx. 2,800) comprises the western part of the core city of Crailsheim, i.e. the districts and residential areas of Roter Buck and Sauerbrunnen. The Christ parish has two churches, each with its own parish office and thus also two parish districts, the Christ Church in Sauerbrunnen and the Paul Gerhardt Church in Roten Buck. The two churches were built after the Second World War for the rapidly growing number of Evangelicals in the core city as further churches after the old Johanneskirche. As an independent parish, the Christ parish then came into being with effect from December 5, 1971 by splitting up what was then the sole parish of Crailsheim. The Christ parish is responsible for two kindergartens.

Johanneskirche Crailsheim

Crailsheim cemetery chapel

Crailsheim Hospital Chapel

The Johanneskirche parish Crailsheim (approx. 5,800) covers most of the core city of Crailsheim. The Johanneskirche already existed around 1170 and was responsible for a larger area. A pastor is mentioned for the first time in 1285. In 1348 the right of patronage passed from Würzburg to Hohenlohe. Several parishes have been separated from Crailsheim since the 13th century. Several chapels belonged to the Johanneskirche, of which only the Gottesackerkapelle remains in the cemetery. The chapel of Our Lady was also rebuilt. It was built in 1393 and modified in 1728. After the Reformation, the Johanneskirche became the seat of an Ansbach deanery. Today's town church is a late Gothic three-aisled complex based on the model of the churches of the mendicant orders. It was consecrated in 1440. The tower dates from 1399, the Welsche dome with lantern from 1645. The choir was already laid out on a vault, but was only made of wood in 1852. During the Second World War, the church was partially destroyed, but then rebuilt. She owns several tombs of the nobility. The Johannesgemeindehaus on Kirchplatz and the Kreuzberg parish hall on Kurt-Schumacher-Strasse also belong to the Johanneskirche community. Today there are four parish offices in the Johanneskirche, of which the parish office I is headed by the dean. With effect from December 5, 1971, the former parish of Crailsheim was split up and so today's Johanneskirche was created.

With effect from January 1, 1980, the evangelical residents of Alexandersreut were separated from the Johanneskirche congregation and assigned to the Ingersheim congregation.

Parish of Ellrichshausen

The parish of Ellrichshausen (approx. 800) includes the district of Ellrichshausen with the associated hamlets Beeghof, Birkelbach, Gersbach, Horschhausen, Rockhalden, Simonsberg and Volkershausen of the community of Satteldorf. The ecclesiastical affiliation of some hamlets was often controversial in earlier centuries. A parish was first mentioned in Ellrichshausen in 1240 and a pastor was also recorded in a document since 1285. The patronage of the church came via the Seinsheim to the Rothenburg convent and finally to Ansbach. Today's Johanneskirche was rebuilt in 1563, redesigned in 1592 and completely redesigned into a hall church in 1749. The tower was given an octagonal floor. After several renovations (1929, 1971), the church received its current appearance in the 1980s. The organ was probably built in 1711 and rebuilt in 1836. A St. Ulrich's chapel in the cemetery mentioned in 1418 was demolished in 1563. It could possibly have been the previous parish church of Ellrichshausen.

Goldbach parish

The Goldbach parish (approx. 660) includes the Goldbach district of the city of Crailsheim. A chapel of St. Mauritius has been attested since the 15th century. It was probably built by the St. Moritz monastery and was chaplain of Crailsheim until the Reformation. At the end of the 16th century it was raised to a separate parish. The current parish church of St. Mauritius was built in 1725 on the foundations of the previous church. Inside there are epitaphs and death signs of the former local nobility Geyer zu Giebelstadt-Reinsbronn-Goldbach, as well as a commemorative plaque of the pastor family Kleindrettlein from the Reformation period and a preserved portrait of the bailiff Gottfried von Behringer. Also in the choir is an impressive Passion window from more recent times and a terracotta crucifix from the beginning of the 18th century on the altar. The church was badly damaged in World War II, but was rebuilt afterwards. The rectory by the church dates from the middle of the 19th century and was renovated in 1994. The former parish barn was demolished in the early 1990s and the Mauritius parish hall with rooms for parish work was built in its place in 1992.

Parish of Gröningen

The parish of Gröningen (approx. 1,000) includes the district of Gröningen with most of the hamlets belonging to the parish of Satteldorf. A pastor was mentioned for the first time in 1285, and a parish in St. Kilian appeared for the first time in 1493. Some neighboring hamlets also belonged to the parish, but some of them later also belonged to other parishes. The parish church stands on a walled former cemetery. It is a late Romanesque choir tower with a late Gothic cross ribbed vault. The nave was extended and the tower rebuilt from 1710 to 1716. In 1961 the church was renovated. The Gröningen parish also looks after the neighboring parish of Bronnholzheim.

Entire parish of Gründelhardt

The overall church community of Gründelhardt (approx. 1,230) includes the district of Gründelhardt with all the associated hamlets of the community of Frankenhardt. The total parish consists of the two following parishes Gründelhardt and Spaichbühl.

Church community Gründelhardt

The church community Gründelhardt (approx. 1170) includes the district Gründelhardt with most of the associated hamlets (except Spaichbühl) of the community Frankenhardt. In terms of church, Gründelhardt initially belonged to Honhardt. However, since 1285 the place has its own parish. The patronage of the church came through Ellwangen and Kirchberg to the Lords of Vellberg , who introduced the Reformation in 1556. After their extinction, the right of patronage fell back to Ellwangen, but the evangelical faith remained, especially since most of the rights were now Ansbachian. The tower and choir of today's parish church, originally named after the martyr Laurentius, date back to the Middle Ages, while the nave was built in 1723 in Ansbach Baroque style.

The St. Lukas Chapel in Hellmannshofen is also partly used by the Gründelhardt parish , although it is owned by the civil parish. The chapel, first mentioned in 1520, is probably older, but was later profaned. It was restored in the 20th century and is now available for various occasions. As a special feature, the chapel has an old plague chest from the Thirty Years War .

The vicarage of Gründelhardt also looks after the branch parish of Spaichbühl.

Parish of Spaichbühl

The parish Spaichbühl (approx. 60) comprises the Spaichbühl residential area in the Gründelhardt district of the Frankenhardt community. It is one of the smallest parishes in the Württemberg regional church. The chapel of St. Dionysius, St. Peter and Paul in Spaichbühl is said to have been donated by two noble ladies from Stimpfach. It stands in the middle of the village and is surrounded by a small cemetery. Inside there was a winged altar with a carved image of Mary with the child until the beginning of the 20th century. This was sold by the community. The sundial facing west is worth seeing. The chapel was badly damaged by a lightning strike a few years ago, but was restored afterwards.

Honhardt parish

The parish Honardt (approx. 1,700) includes the district Honhardt as well as the associated hamlets of the municipality of Frankenhardt and some residential areas in the municipality of Stimpfach. The Peter and Paul Church in the old town center of Honardt was first mentioned in 1285 when the Hohenlohe family donated the patronage to the Möckmühl monastery. But it is probably older, while the patronage of Peter and Paul can only be proven in 1360. Württemberg introduced the Reformation and sold the right of patronage in 1615 to the imperial city of Schwäbisch Hall, which made Honhardt the center of a large parish district. In some cases, 36 branches belonged to Honardt (for example, Hummelsweiler and Honhardt formerly formed the entire Honhardt parish). Politically, Honhardt was divided between Schwäbisch Hall and Ansbach. From the old Romanesque church, the church was rebuilt in its present form in 1758/59. The architect was the margravial court architect of Brandenburg Ansbach Johann David Steingruber. Only the lower part of the tower remained from the previous building, which contains two sacristies on two floors. The interior of the church is kept simple. Next to the altar wall are two wall paintings with the symbols of the apostles: on the left Peter - shield with keys, above a cock and waves indicated below - on the right Paul - shield with cross, snake and sword. The painting on the ceiling shows a cross in the four corners of which the symbols of the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John can be seen. In the front part of the church there is a figure made of stone and wood on the left and right, which was donated by a parishioner in 1763. The church is surrounded by the rectory from 1645, the former moated castle (around 1027), the Gasthof zum Rössle (1529) and the town hall and school house.

As a special feature, the Honardt parish still celebrates the hail holiday every year .

Parish of Hummelsweiler

The parish of Hummelsweiler (approx. 650) includes almost the entire community of Rosenberg in the Ostalb district as well as the Gauchshausen residential area of ​​the community of Frankenhardt, district of Schwäbisch Hall. The hamlet of Hohenberg was reclassified from the parish of Adelmannsfelden (parish of Aalen) to the parish of Hummelsweiler by an announcement by the upper church council on March 4, 1933. Hummelsweiler is the only parish in the Crailsheim deanery that belongs to the Ostalb district.

The community of Rosenberg and most of its associated hamlets remained Catholic as the property of Ellwangen after the Reformation. Only the district of Hummelsweiler became Protestant after the Reformation as it belonged to the imperial city of Schwäbisch Hall. Most Protestants did not move to the other places in the Rosenberg community until after the Second World War. These were assigned to the parish of Hummelsweiler. The church, built in 1767, and the parish hall, which is housed in the old schoolhouse, are located in Hummelweiler. Some of the residential areas in the Rosenberg community belong to the church of Adelmannsfelden.

Hummelsweiler formerly formed the Honhardt parish together with the Honhardt parish.

Ingersheim parish

The parish of Ingersheim (approx.1,000) comprises the district of Ingersheim and the Alexandersreut residential area of ​​the city of Crailsheim, which belongs to the district of Jagstheim, but was only separated from the Johanneskirche parish with effect from January 1, 1980 and assigned to the parish of Ingersheim. Furthermore, according to an announcement by the Oberkirchenrat on April 14, 1953, the Rotmühle residential area belongs to the parish, which until then belonged to the Altenmünster parish. In terms of church, Ingersheim has always belonged to Crailsheim, but a chapel dedicated to Saints Sixtus and Wolfgang was first mentioned as early as 1480. It was later elevated to a parish church. The church tower has the typical Franconian half-timbered tower. The choir has a late Gothic rib vault. In 1607 the interior of the church was painted. In 1819 she received her first organ. 1960 to 1962 the old nave with the neighboring school was demolished and a new nave was added. After that the church was named Matthäuskirche. In 1965 a new organ was installed and in 1993 the church was renovated inside and out. With effect from January 1, 1980, the branch relationships between the parish of Ingersheim and the Johannes parish in Crailsheim were dissolved and the parish of Ingersheim was raised to an independent parish.

Jagstheim parish

The parish of Jagstheim (approx. 1,050) includes the Jagstheim district with the associated hamlets (excluding Alexandersreut) of the city of Crailsheim. Jagstheim initially belonged to Crailsheim, but a Nikolauskirche is already mentioned in 1285. This was replaced by the current building from 1764 to 1765. The tower had a dome and a lantern as early as 1719. The church has tombs of the Lords of Ellrichshausen from the 16th century. In 1898 the nave was lengthened by 4 meters and the church was renovated inside and out. In the same year the church got a new organ. The last renovation was carried out in 1998.

Parish of Leukershausen

The parish of Leukershausen (approx. 720 parishioners) comprises the district of Leukershausen with the associated hamlets Bergertshofen, Haselhof, Selgenstadt, Vötschenhof and Waidmannsberg of the Kreßberg community . A pastor is mentioned in Leukershausen as early as 1285. The Würzburg bishopric held the patronage rights of the Johannes Baptist Church. This right was granted to the hospital in Dinkelsbühl in 1368. After the Reformation introduced in 1534, the pastor was named by Dinkelsbühl and appointed by Ansbach. In 1758 a new nave was added to the choir tower of the old church from the beginning of the 15th century. The tower's half-timbered tower was renewed in 1830 using a massive construction method. In the choir there is still a ribbed vault with the coat of arms of the Lords of Ellrichshausen. The altar is adorned with a wooden relief showing Christ and the twelve apostles from the end of the 15th century. In the tower there is a four-part chime from which the oldest bell dates from the 14th century.

The Nikolauskapelle in Bergertshofen is partly still of Romanesque origin. It was first mentioned in 1370. The small rectangular building has a barrel-vaulted east choir. A 15th century mural was uncovered in 1950. Only the statue of St. Nicholas from around 1520 has survived from a former winged altar. Today the altar is adorned with a wood carving with the birth, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, which was created in 1951 by Edelgarde vom Berge and Herrendorff.

The parish of Leukershausen has been looked after by the parish office in Mariäkappel since 1928.

Parish of Lobenhausen

The parish of Lobenhausen (approx. 100) includes the Lobenhausen residential area in the Gaggstatt district of the city of Kirchberg an der Jagst . Gaggstatt itself forms its own parish within the church district of Blaufelden . Only the small church remains from the former castle on the mountain. It was built in Romanesque style around 1050/1200 and dedicated to John the Baptist. At first it was a branch of Lendsiedel. After the Reformation in 1528 it became a branch of Triensbach. The Johanneskirche was renovated in 1833. Another renovation took place in 1967. At that time, a statue of John the Baptist, who gave the church its name, was also placed in the apse in the choir. The parish of Lobenhausen is looked after by the Triensbach parish to this day.

Parish of Mariäkappel

The parish of Mariäkappel (approx. 1,100) includes the district of Mariäkappel with the associated hamlets of the Kreßberg community. A chapel to Our Lady, first mentioned in 1366, belonged to the parish. In 1461 she was raised to a chaplaincy and in 1481 to a parish. The current church was built in 1480/81. The flat-roofed nave was renewed in 1523. Inside there is a winged altar from the 16th century with carvings and paintings.

The parish of Mariäkappel has also looked after the neighboring parish of Leukershausen since 1928.

Parish of Marktlustenau

The parish of Marktlustenau (approx. 800) includes the district of Marktlustenau with the associated hamlets of Ober- and Unterstelzhausen, Hohenkreßberg, Riegelbach, Halden, Tempelhof, Bräunersberg, Schönbronn and Gaisbühl of the municipality of Kreßberg. The church of St. Georg Marktlustenau was first mentioned in 1285. Waldtann also belonged to it until 1458. In 1530 the Seckendorff introduced the Reformation. The Counter-Reformation failed for the most part, but led to the establishment of a Catholic parish, so that the church was used simultaneously by both parishes until 1896. Then the Catholic community built its own St. George's Church. The old, originally Romanesque choir tower church in the former churchyard with a ribbed choir has been used by the Protestant parish since then. Since April 1, 2007 the parish office of Marktlustenau has also been looking after the neighboring parish of Waldtann after the parish office there was abolished. The parish office of Marktlustenau has had the double name Marktlustenau-Waldtann since March 2007.

Parish of Oberspeltach

The parish of Oberspeltach (approx. 550) includes the district of Oberspeltach with most of the associated hamlets of the community of Frankenhardt. Some still belong to the parish of Stöckenburg (city of Vellberg) in the church district of Schwäbisch Hall. Steinhaig was, however, separated from the parish of Stöckenburg by an announcement by the upper church council on January 22, 1931 and incorporated into the parish of Oberspeltach.

In terms of church, Oberspeltach initially belonged to Honhardt. It was not until 1706 that the city of Schwäbisch Hall appointed a vicar for Oberspeltach. In 1801 the place became its own parish, which was connected with Honhardt until 1819 and then with Gründelhardt until 1860. The parish church was destroyed in World War II and rebuilt in the following period.

Parish Onolzheim

The parish Onolzheim (approx. 1,150 church members) comprises the Crailsheim district of Onolzheim . In 1404, Nikolaus Possek, the auxiliary bishop of Würzburg, consecrated the choir and altar of a chapel and in 1415 gave them indulgences (the letter of indulgence from the Bishop of Damascus is in the Ludwigsburg State Archives). The oldest bell in St. Mary's Church dates from 1475. In 1476 a separate parish was established, but it was only finally separated from Crailsheim after the Reformation. In 1754 the foundation stone for the new nave was laid. The Ansbach agricultural master builder David Steingruber made the plan. In 1872 the nave was lengthened again by 3.5 meters. The Marienkirche underwent a thorough renovation in 1970: The Ansbach church wall with altar and pulpit one above the other was abandoned. The side of the tower was given a board wall, the side gallery was removed, and a new west gallery was created instead, on which the organ was located. In 1995 the church was renovated outside and in 2002 inside. During the interior renovation, the most serious change was that the wooden altar wall was provided with a painting "Resurrection" by the Karlsruhe artist Thomas Gatzemeier , measuring 7.14 m by 8.50 m (approx. 60 m²). Central aisle and new pulpit, changes to the two entrances, new lighting were other points of the renovation. The parish rectory was built in 1980. In place of the old schoolhouse and later town hall of the Onolzheim community, the current community center was built in 1989.

Parish of Rechenberg

The parish Rechenberg (approx. 600) comprises the district Rechenberg and the associated hamlets as well as the hamlet Hörbühl of the municipality of Stimpfach and the municipality of Jagstzell in the Ostalb district. In terms of church, Rechenberg initially belonged to Stimpfach. In 1501 a chapel dedicated to the Holy Blood is attested, but it was later lost. The local authorities introduced the Reformation in 1555 and in 1567 their own parish was established. Ellwangen originally had the right of patronage, which returned to Ellwangen as a fief in 1608. The Counter Reformation was carried out from there, but it was not able to fully establish itself. Today's Protestant parish church was built in 1619/20 as a tower choir. The tower has an onion roof. The interior dates from 1728.

Most of the Protestant residents moved to the neighboring Catholic community of Jagstzell only after the Second World War. They were assigned to the Protestant parish Rechenberg. In 1964 a separate church, the Christ Church, was built in Jagstzell.

Parish of Roßfeld

The parish of Roßfeld (approx. 1,100) comprises the Roßfeld district and the associated hamlets of Crailsheim. The church in Roßfeld is probably one of the oldest churches in the Crailsheim area, although it was first mentioned in 1285. Legend has it that the knights who visited the church let their horses run free during which the name of the place Roßfeld is supposed to be explained. The church patron Martin has only been attested since 1337. The Reformation was introduced in Roßfeld in 1533. The pastor at the time, Johann Breitengrasser, was also one of the local leaders in the peasant war. The Martinskirche received its present form in 1713/14. At that time the pulpit is placed above the altar. However, the organ is located opposite in the organ gallery. The church tower with today's roof shape was built in 1779. In 1991 the church was renovated. The baptismal font inside the church dates from 1617.

In addition to the church, the parish of Roßfeld has owned a parish hall, the Martinshaus, since 2002. In addition to the actual community hall with kitchen, it also houses a youth room and the nursing ward. The three stained glass windows in the great hall come from the former American church in the Hirtenwiesen area.

Parish of Satteldorf

The parish of Satteldorf (approx. 1,800) includes the core town and the associated hamlets of the parish of Satteldorf . The parish in Satteldorf is mentioned for the first time on a crusade list in 1285. Even then, the place belonged to the Crailsheim Chapter (Dean's Office), which at that time included parishes on both sides of today's Württemberg-Bavarian border. The right of patronage for the local Nikolauskirche changes several times between the owners of the Burleswagen Castle, which is located high above the Jagst, and the Neidenfels Castle, which is located on the "low rock". In the late Middle Ages, the Neidenfels castle district formed a non-independent parish, in whose chapel dedicated to St. Mechthild a chaplain performed his duties until 1500. Later Neidenfels is looked after by the Satteldorfer pastor. The Mechthildis Chapel was demolished in the middle of the 19th century because it was dilapidated. Neidenfels, however, formed an independent parish, which was only united with the parish of Satteldorf through the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on January 7, 1925.

In 1528 the Reformation was introduced in Satteldorf by Margrave Georg the Pious. The first Protestant pastor on site is Heinrich Reitheinz (1528–1535?), Of whom it is said in the visitation files that his “sermon” was “badly dilapidated”. The long-standing legal relationship with the Margraviate of Ansbach-Brandenburg promotes a Lutheran expression of the Reformation in Satteldorf and leads to a picture-friendly architectural style of the Nikolauskirche. The oldest structural traces of the church go back to the 13th century (choir area). The church was enlarged several times (including 1522) and received its current Baroque appearance in 1711. The tower was also raised at that time. The optical center of the church is a high altar from 1726 by Schreiner Hörler. In 1735 the church received the first organ. As a result of the Napoleonic reorganization of the rule structure, Satteldorf came under Bavarian (1806), later under Württemberg (1810) suzerainty at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1826, the patronage of Count Soden on the Neidenfels manor was also transferred to the Württemberg state. 1961 to 1964 the church was renovated. She received new stalls, oil heating, an electric tower clock and a new organ in what has been the "Käppele". In 1955 the neighboring parish barn was converted into a parish hall with nurses 'and kindergarten teachers' apartments. At that time, the parish also had a kindergarten, which has been housed in the school building since 1980 and has since been sponsored by the civil parish.

Tiefenbach parish

The parish (approx. 880) includes the district of Tiefenbach with the associated hamlets of the city of Crailsheim. Ecclesiastically, the place initially belonged to Crailsheim. However, Tiefenbach had had a church since the 14th century, which emerged from a chapel dedicated to St. Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia. It stood in the middle of a cemetery, of which only a few gravestones can be seen. In the years after 1501 the chapel was extended with a half-timbered structure. In 1511 it received a new altar. The nave was built in 1512, extended by two aisles. In 1718 Tiefenbach became its own parish with branches in Wollmershausen and Rüddern. The nave had already been enlarged in 1707 . The first pastor was Nikolaus Andreas Frank. In 1939, the later state bishop of Württemberg, Helmut Claß, spent his vicariate in Tiefenbach.

Parish of Triensbach

The parish of Triensbach (approx. 500) comprises the district of Triensbach with the associated hamlets of Erkenbrechtshausen, Saurach, Buch, Heinkenbusch, Weilershof and Rodäcker of the city of Crailsheim, whereby Buch belonged to the parish of Lendsiedel (at that time parish of Langenburg, today Blaufelden) until 1938 and only through Announcement of the upper church council of March 11, 1938 the parish Triensbach was assigned.

A St. Andrew's chapel is said to have been donated in 1282. A pastor is mentioned for the first time in 1285. The Flügelau owned the patronage of the church. For a short time the place was also the seat of a chaplain of the parish Lendsiedel. Triensbach has been its own parish again since the Reformation. Today's parish church has a rib-vaulted choir tower and a barrel-vaulted sacristy. The nave from 1725 is late baroque. The font dates back to 1595.

The Triensbach parish also looks after the Lobenhausen parish.

Parish Unterdeufstetten

The parish of Unterdeufstetten (approx. 600) includes the districts of Unterdeufstetten and Matzenbach with the associated hamlets as well as the hamlet of Buckenweiler of the municipality of Fichtenau , as well as some hamlets of the municipality of Ellenberg in the Ostalb district. Ober- and Unterdeufstetten initially belonged to Segringen (today part of Bavaria), whose patronage rights were held by Öttingen after the Reformation. In 1811 the parishioners came to the parish of Wildenstein. In 1900, a separate parish was set up in Unterdeufstetten, to which Matzenbach also belonged, although there was still an independent parish there until 1924.

Since 1830 Protestant services have been held in the newly built Catholic parish church of the Holy Trinity, which was used simultaneously for several decades. In 1905 the architect Heinrich Dolmetsch built his own Protestant church in Art Nouveau style. It was founded by the evangelical noble family of the von Seckendorff family, who lived in Unterdeufstetten Castle.

Matzenbach was initially a church branch of Ellenberg. After the Reformation, the Protestant residents belonged to the parish of Segringen. They were later assigned to Rechenberg, then Wildenstein and finally the parish of Unterdeufstetten. But Matzenbach formed its own parish, which was merged with the parish of Unterdeufstetten to form the entire parish of Unterdeufstetten. By the announcement of the upper church council on July 5, 1924, the two parishes were united to form the simple parish of Unterdeufstetten, thus abolishing the entire parish of Unterdeufstetten.

Since September 2005, the Unterdeufstetten parish has also looked after the Bernhardsweiler parish, which was previously looked after by the Wildenstein parish.

Waldtann parish

The parish of Waldtann (approx. 970) includes the district of Waldtann with the hamlets of Asbach, Bergbronn, Mistlau, Rötsweiler, Ruppersbach, Stegenhof and Vehlenberg of the municipality of Kreßberg . In 1385 a church in Wandtann was mentioned for the first time as a branch of Marktlustenau. In 1457, a parish of its own was established at the St. Giles Chapel in Waldtann. The Reformation was introduced through Ansbach between 1522 and 1525. The church with its cross-vaulted tower choir survived the fire in the town during the Thirty Years' War. The high altar with paintings and figures dates from around 1700. The pulpit is baroque, the baptismal font Gothic. During the Second World War, the church was damaged by artillery fire, but then restored. With effect from April 1, 2007, the Waldtann rectory was abolished. Since then, the parish of Waldtann has been looked after by the parish office of Marktlustenau-Waldtann, based in Marktlustenau.

Through the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on January 12, 1956, there was a small exchange of territory between the Waldtann parish in favor of the neighboring parish Westgartshausen.

Weipertshofen parish

The parish of Weipertshofen (approx. 650) includes the district Weipertshofen with the associated hamlets Gerbertshofen, Hochbronn, Käsbach, Klinglesmühle and Nestleinsberg as well as the core town and the residential area Siglershofen of the community Stimpfach . Ecclesiastically, Weipertshofen initially belonged to Stimpfach. After the Reformation, most of the residents joined the new faith. They were then looked after by the Westgartshausen parish office. The village's medieval St. George's Chapel was destroyed in the Thirty Years' War, only the late Gothic tower choir remained, which was then integrated into the rebuilt church from 1671. The tower was renewed in 1821 and the nave expanded in 1878. In 1892 Weipertshofen became its own parish. In 1968 the church was completely rebuilt. In the main town, Stimpfach, which remained Catholic, Protestant residents only moved in after the Second World War. They were assigned to the Weipertshofen parish. The hamlets belonging to Stimpfach also partly belong to the parishes of Rechenberg and Honhardt.

Westgartshausen parish

The parish Westgartshausen (approx. 800) comprises the Westgartshausen district and the associated hamlets Lohr, Neuhaus, Mittelmühle, Ofenbach, Osshalden, Schüttberg, Wegses and Wittau of the city of Crailsheim. As early as 1250, a pilgrimage church to Our Lady is mentioned, which was endowed with papal indulgences. The patronage was owned by the Lords of Lohr and, from 1303, the Counts of Flügelau. It finally came to Ansbach via Hohenlohe. After the Reformation the church became a Protestant parish church. The church with a late medieval tower choir has a ribbed vault. The flat-roofed ship was built in 1610/11. Inside there is a winged altar and grave monuments from the 17th and 18th centuries.

By the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on January 12, 1956, there was a small exchange of territory between the neighboring parish of Waldtann in favor of the parish of Westgartshausen.

Parish Wildenstein

Evang. Fichtenau-Wildenstein Church

The parish of Wildenstein (approx. 1,300) comprises the districts of Wildenstein , Wäldershub with Völkermühle and Großenhub with Zankhof as well as the Lautenbach district and most of its associated hamlets in the Fichtenau community . In addition, the village of Steinbach am Wald, which is today the municipality of Stimpfach, has been part of the parish since pre-Württemberg times. In terms of church, Wildenstein initially belonged to the parish of Weidelbach (today Bavaria). Ansbach introduced the Reformation in 1561 and established its own parish in 1591. From 1628 the Counter Reformation was able to gain a foothold, but in 1668 a Protestant parish was founded again by the manor owners. The parish then only consisted of the villages Wildenstein, Gunzach, Rötlein and Neustädtlein belonging to the Wildenstein manor. From the medieval Martinskapelle from 1583, today's church was built in 1765, expanded and refurbished in 1827/28. The localities Wäldershub and Großenhub with districts were only added to the parish after the Württemberg takeover from 1810. Wäldershub belonged to the (now Bavarian) parish of Weidelbach until 1811, which until then also had a school in Wäldershub. The part of Wäldershub to the west of the Rothbach was originally part of the Stimpfach parish, but the Reformation never took place there. The last major construction project was carried out in 1911/12. The church has several grave monuments of the Hofer von Lobenstein from the 17th and 18th centuries.

literature

• Address manual for the Franconian principalities of Ansbach and Bayreuth . Publishing house of the two orphanages, Ansbach and Bayreuth 1801, p. 116-120 ( digitized version ).
• 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 .

Sources and further information

1. ↑ http://www.aalen.de/sixcms/media.php/166/Die%20Orgelbauerfamilie%20Allgeyer%20in%20Hofen%20und%20W%20asseralfingen.pdf
2. ↑ Internet presence of the parish of Satteldorf

Web links

• Evangelical Church District Crailsheim