Church district Gaildorf

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Basic data
Regional Church : Evangelical Church in Württemberg
Prelature : Heilbronn
Area : 374 km²
Structure: 17 parishes
Parishioners: approx. 22,180 (December 31, 2009)
Address of the
Dean's Office :		 Uhlandstrasse 31
74405 Gaildorf
Dean : Uwe Altenmüller
map
Location of the church district Gaildorf within the Evang. Regional Church in Württemberg

The Evangelical Church District Gaildorf 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 Gaildorf.

geography

The Gaildorf church district is located in the northeast of the Württemberg regional church. Its area includes the south of the Schwäbisch Hall district , i.e. the area of ​​the political cities and communities Bühlertann , Bühlerzell , Fichtenberg , Gaildorf , Michelbach an der Bilz , Oberrot , Obersontheim and Sulzbach-Laufen as well as the communities of Gschwend (with the exception of a few hamlets) and Obergröningen , the districts of Untergröningen and Hohenstadt of the community Abtsgmünd and the predominantly Catholic community Schechingen in the northwest of the Ostalbkreis .

Neighboring church districts

The church district Gaildorf is bordered to the west by the church district Backnang , north to the church district Schwäbisch Hall and on the northeast by the church district Crailsheim . They all belong to the Heilbronn Prelature . In the southeast it borders on the church district Aalen and in the south on the church district Schwäbisch Gmünd , both of which belong to the Ulm prelature .

history

Until the 18th century, the area of ​​today's deanery or church district of Gaildorf belonged predominantly to the Limpurg rule , which was divided into several lines (among other things, Gaildorf and Obersontheim were temporarily residences), then partly to Brandenburg, partly to Württemberg and to smaller dominions until the whole area finally came to the Kingdom of Württemberg in 1806 . The sovereigns introduced the Reformation early on, so that the area is predominantly evangelical. Only the upper Bühlertal remained Catholic after the Reformation as it belonged to Ellwangen . From 1561 there was a Limpurgian court preacher in Gaildorf, and from 1600 at the latest there was a superintendent. After the transition to Württemberg in 1806, the previous limpurgic superintendent was converted into a Württemberg dean's office in 1807. The parish priest of Gaildorf was appointed to the deanery. The Gaildorf deanery initially belonged to the Schwäbisch Hall Generalate , after its dissolution in 1913 it became the Heilbronn Generalate, from which today's Heilbronn Prelature emerged. From 1824 to 1832 the pastor of Fichtenberg carried out the official duties of the dean in Gaildorf.

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 Rainer Uhlmann (* 1952) since 1993, who is also one of the pastors at the town church in Gaildorf .

Deans of the Gaildorf church district since 1807

  • 1807–1823 Georg Loenhard Letsch, Limpurgian parish priest in Gaildorf since 1789
  • 1824–1832 Johann Gottfried Pahl, pastor in Fichtenberg
  • 1832–1852 Johann Philipp August Mützel, dean administrator
  • 1853–1862 Ferdinand Gustav Ludwig Keerl
  • 1863–1871 Karl Albert Friedrich Mezger (1818–1886)
  • 1871–1881 Johann Wilhelm Philipp Ammon (1829–1897)
  • 1882–1895 Karl Ludwig Leypoldt (1845–1922)
  • 1895–1907 Eugen Majer
  • 1908–1930 Theodor Schrenk (1870–1947)
  • 1930–1946 Martin Strebel
  • 1946 / 47–1952 Ernst Knapp
  • 1952–1963 Heinrich Greber
  • 1963–1973 Gebhard Kirn (* 1913)
  • 1973–1986 Otto-Friedrich Weber (* 1921)
  • 1986–1992 Hans-Hermann Keinath (* 1940)
  • 1993–2012 Rainer Uhlmann (* 1952)
  • From 2013 Uwe Altenmüller (* 1961)

Parishes

There are a total of 17 parishes in the Gaildorf church district. Since January 1, 2007, this also includes the parish of Untersontheim, which previously belonged to the Schwäbisch Hall church district . Total parishes do not exist in the parish of Gaildorf. 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 of Gaildorf 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. Only the Bühlertal is Catholic, as it used to belong to Ellwangen.

Eutendorf parish

The parish of Eutendorf (approx. 1,150) includes the district of Eutendorf with the associated hamlets (including Großaltdorf and Kleinaltdorf) of the city of Gaildorf. A church in Eutendorf was first mentioned in 1285. From 1513 it is called St. Kilian's Church. The patronage was probably transferred from the Counts of Comburg to the Comburg Monastery , which sold it to the Lords of Limpurg in 1669. In 1707 it was owned by the Counts of Wurmbrand and von Solms, who bequeathed it to the Counts of Bentinck. Despite the Comburg patronage, the Limpurgs introduced the Reformation in 1552. The parish church is a late Gothic building with tracery windows and remains of the churchyard fortifications. Today's ship is located in the former cemetery, which was moved to the end of the village in the direction of Gaildorf in 1841. In 1609 a gallery was built into the church. In 1884/85 a thorough interior renovation was carried out, which was partially reversed during the last renovation in 1970/71. The organ by master organ builder Peter Vier was inaugurated in 1971. The altar paintings by the Hall painter Hieronymus Rappold date from 1619. There are three bells hanging in the bell cage of the tower. The largest of these dates from 1511 and was cast by the bell caster Lachamann in Heilbronn, who is still known today among experts.

The neighboring town of Großaltdorf has always been part of Eutendorf's church. But this place has an old church, the Saint Bartholomew Church, in which services are regularly celebrated to this day. Along with the churches in Mittelrot and Münster, the Bartholomäuskirche is one of the oldest churches in the entire area. It was built under the Lords of Altdorf before 1091. The church, initially called Martinskirche, originally served as a fortified church. The former mayor of Eutendorf, Emil Dietz, was able to prove in 1953 that the chapel was consecrated to the Apostle Bartholomew and was still called that in 1549. The church has a later added Gothic choir and a Gothic wooden ceiling with beautiful ornaments and the sun. The wooden ceiling and the chairs of the Lords of Limpurg in the chancel date from 1498. The coats of arms of Comburg and Limpurg are embedded in the ceiling of the nave. In 1604 a gallery was built. In the roof turret of the church hang two small bells.

Fichtenberg parish

The parish of Fichtenberg (approx. 1,800) includes the parish of Fichtenberg with all associated hamlets, whereby the hamlet of Rupphof was assigned to the parish of Fichtenberg by the parish of Murrhardt by the consistory of December 28, 1920. The parish of Fichtenberg, together with the parishes of Oberrot and Münster, form the “Rottal” district within the Gaildorf parish. There was a church in Fichtenberg as early as the 9th century as the property of the Murrhardt Monastery . In 1519 the church was rebuilt. After the Reformation, the right of patronage fell to Württemberg. The church, attested as St. Kilian's Church from 1552, was renovated in 1743. She received a gallery and an organ. Services were held here until 1830. In the meantime, however, the church had become so dilapidated that it had to be closed and finally demolished. The present church was built in its place in 1832. In 1908 the top of the church tower was raised and a tiled roof was added. In 1955 the church was renovated inside. The galleries were dismantled and only built on one side. In 1972 the nave was re-covered and at the same time the steeple was given a copper jacket. In 2002 the entire interior was finally renovated. In 1984 the parish hall was built next to the church in Fichtenberg.

In the hamlet of Mittelrot there is another church belonging to the parish of Fichtenberg. The church of St. Georg, which always belongs to the parish of Fichtenberg, has a Romanesque tower choir with Gothic vaults and a flat-roofed nave. The altar shrine dates from 1499. A fresco was painted over in the 15th century. The two church bells in St. George's Church date from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Parish of Frickenhofen

The parish of Frickenhofen (approx. 900) includes the district of Frickenhofen with all the hamlets belonging to it (excluding Hirschbach, that in 1933 and Hohenreusch, which was assigned to the parish of Gschwend in 1988) of the parish of Gschwend as well as some hamlets of the parish of Ruppertshofen (Ostalbkreis). A church in Frickenhofen is not mentioned until 1488. In 1507 their patronage is attested to the saints Maria, Nikolaus and Katharina. It belonged to the Lorch monastery . Duke Ulrich von Württemberg introduced the Reformation in 1534 and dissolved the Lorch Monastery. The right of patronage in Frickenhofen was from then on exercised by the duke. In 1634 the church and the place burned down. Frickenhofen was then provided by the pastor of Täferrot. In 1654 the place got its own pastor again. In 1743 the church was rebuilt because the old one had become too small. The church tower was added in 1765, an organ was installed in 1784. An interior renovation took place in 1875; In 1878 a sacristy was added and a new gallery was built. In 1905 the tower was given a new roof and four corner turrets were added. In 1952/56 the church was renewed.

The hamlet of Mittelbronn, which belongs to Frickenhofen, formed its own branch parish of Frickenhofen until 1931. By the announcement of the upper church council on January 22, 1931, the branch parish of Mittelbronn was abolished and merged with the mother parish of Frickenhofen.

Parish of Gaildorf

The parish of Gaildorf (approx. 2,750) comprises the core town of Gaildorf. Ecclesiastically, Gaildorf initially belonged to the parish of Münster (today a district of Gaildorf). In 1417 the Limpurg taverns donated a Marienkapelle, which was elevated to a parish church in 1433. From 1435 on the chapel was built and from 1540–1450 it received a new church tower. In 1482 the Hofkirche church became the "Limpurg tavern" after Gaildorf had become a residential town. From 1518 to 1521 the church was enlarged in the late Gothic style. In 1610/11 the church tower was raised. On 19./20. January 1868 a big fire destroyed the church and 46 other buildings. The church was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style by 1870. During the Second World War, the church was badly damaged by artillery fire in 1945. Only the surrounding walls of the nave remained, but the vault of the choir held out, as did the tower. In 1957 an extension was built. From 1967 to 1971 the church tower was renewed and from 1972 to 1980 the organ was renewed and expanded.

The parish of Gaildorf also organizes regular devotions in the hospital, in the Graf-Pückler-Heim and in the nursing home of the Großheppach sisters.

The parish of Gaildorf runs four kindergartens: Auf dem Bühl, Gräfin-Adele-Kindergarten, Kindergarten Kirchstraße and Schloss-Kindergarten.

Geifertshofen parish

The parish of Geifertshofen (approx. 780) includes the municipality of Bühlerzell . The main town of Bühlerzell became Protestant after the Reformation, but after 1578 the town was re-Catholicized by Ellwangen. Most of the Protestant residents who moved there after the Second World War were assigned to the Geifertshofen parish, which also includes the Protestant residents of most of Bühlerzell's residential areas. Some living spaces also belong to the Adelmannsfelden parish (church district Aalen).

In the district of Geifertshofen , a church is first mentioned in 1285. The patronage was the Comburg monastery. The sovereign, the Limpurg taverns, introduced the Reformation. Geifertshofen has been Protestant ever since. The old parish church burned down in 1626, but was then rebuilt. In 1902 it was completely rebuilt or almost completely rebuilt by Heinrich Dolmetsch . The tower of the previous church was retained.

With effect from June 8, 1995, the Gerabronn residential district, which previously belonged to the Sulzbach parish, was reclassified to the Geifertshofen parish.

Gschwend parish

The parish of Gschwend (approx. 2,100) comprises the main town as well as some hamlets in the Altersberg district of the Gschwend community and the hamlets of Hirschbach and Hohenreusch in the Frickenhofen district. Most of Altersberg belongs to the parish Kirchenkirnberg (church district Backnang). The hamlets Hagkling, Pritschenhof, Felgenhof, Pfeilerhof, Wasserhof, Haghof, Sturmhof and Haghöfle in the Gschwend community were assigned to the Gschwend parish by an order of March 28, 1978 by the Kirchenkirnberg parish. Hirschbach was reclassified from the parish of Frickenhofen to the parish of Gschwend by an announcement by the Oberkirchenrats on November 13, 1933 and Hohenreusch by an announcement of June 3, 1988. The hamlet of Hugenbeckenreute in the Gschwender district of Altersberg, which until 1992 belonged to the parish Kirchenkirnberg, was assigned to the parish of Gschwend with effect from December 2, 1992.

Gschwend was initially a branch of Kirchenkirnberg, then the residents went to Frickenhofen for church services. In 1758 a separate parish was established in Gschwend and in 1861/63 the current church was built in the neo-Gothic style by architect Leins. In 1936 the church was renovated. In 1968 the spire was renewed, in 1970 the outside of the church and inside in 1971/72. Some of the Gschwender residential areas used to belong to the imperial city of Schwäbisch Gmünd and therefore remained Catholic. Honkling, until 1972 part of the community of Unterrot, but ecclesiastically assigned to Fichtenberg, was assigned to the parish of Gschwend in 1874.

Until 1925, the hamlet of Stixenhof (then part of the Vordersteinenberg community) also belonged to the Gschwend parish. By the announcement of the upper church council of December 30, 1925 he was assigned to the parish Hellershof (today church district Schorndorf).

Church community Michelbach an der Bilz

The parish of Michelbach an der Bilz (approx. 2,050) includes the parish of Michelbach an der Bilz with all the associated hamlets. In church terms, Michelbach an der Bilz originally belonged to the parish of Stöckenburg. The patronage of the church, first mentioned in 1248, belonged to the Comburg monastery, later to the Limpurgers and finally Hohenlohe , who exchanged it for Limpurg in 1541. These in turn passed it on to Löwenstein . The church has been called Martinskirche since around 1400. It still has a Romanesque choir tower from the 13th century. The ship was built in 1492 and extended in 1599. The choir is vaulted with ribs. Inside you can see wall paintings from the 14th century. The church was renovated in 1955/56. The Michelbach an der Bilz parish also runs a kindergarten.

The community of Michelbach an der Bilz is known nationwide through the Evangelical School Center Michelbach an der Bilz, which includes a grammar school, a secondary school, an advanced high school (grades 8 to 13), a so-called Realschulaufsetzer (grades 11 to 13) as well as a boarding school and an all-day school to be led. The school sponsor is the school foundation of the Evangelical Church in Württemberg.

Parish of Mittelfischach

The parish Mittelfischach (approx. 650) includes the district Mittelfischach with the associated hamlets Unterfischach, Engelhofen, Weiler and Rothof as well as the farm Rappoltsau of the municipality Obersontheim, whereby the farm Rappoltsau was only announced by the church council of April 17, 1952 by the parish Oberfischach in the parish of Mittelfischach was reclassified. A church of St. John was first mentioned in Mittelfischach in 1376. The patronage came from Hohenlohe in 1482 to Limpurg, who bequeathed it to Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg in 1744. The current church was rebuilt in 1960. The tower of the previous church was retained. The Gothic tower choir serves as a baptistery. The frescoes discovered in the nave of the old church were moved to the new altar wall.

The parish of Mittelfischach is looked after by the Oberfischach parish.

Parish of Münster am Kocher

The parish of Münster am Kocher (approx. 1,200) includes the Unterrot district with all its hamlets, including Münster am Kocher and the town of Gaildorf. The parishes of Münster, together with the parishes of Fichtenberg and Oberrot, form the “Rottal” district.

Münster has one of the oldest churches in the entire area. A separate parish has been attested since 1285. The Limpurger had the patronage of the church. The church was also the parish church for Gaildorf until its own parish was established there in 1433. Münster was then only a branch of Gaildorf, but remained the church of the dead for Gaildorf. From 1694 the deacon Gaildorf performed the parish services in Münster again and from 1898 Münster became its own parish again. The current church was built in 1510 as the Church of Our Lady. The tower is vaulted on the ground floor with a limpurgic coat of arms in the keystone and has Romanesque double windows. The interior was redesigned in Art Nouveau style in 1914 and renovated in 1988.

Unterrot as the political center of its own congregation has no church and has always been part of Münster. In Unterrot, however, there is the Friedensgemeindehaus of the parish of Münster am Kocher.

Parish of Oberfischach

The parish of Oberfischach (approx. 470) includes the district of Oberfischach with the associated hamlets of Herlebach , Rappoltshofen , Benzenhof , Beutenmühle , Mühlhof and Röschbühl of the municipality of Obersontheim. The Rappoltsau farm was assigned to the parish of Mittelfischach by an announcement by the Upper Church Council on April 17, 1952. In 1294 a church of St. Kilian in Oberfischach is mentioned for the first time. It was probably once a pilgrimage church. But there should have been a church earlier. In 1634 the church burned down inside. The tower choir still shows Gothic forms. The pulpit was bought by Bühlertann in 1767. The tower of the church was raised in 1860.

Parish of Obergröningen

The parish of Obergröningen (approx. 950) comprises the municipality of Obergröningen as well as the district of Hohenstadt (with the exception of a few hamlets) of the municipality of Abtsgmünd and the municipality of Schechingen . A church in Obergröningen is first mentioned in 1427. In 1436 the church set came to the Limpurg taverns. They introduced the Reformation in 1544. The church, known as Nikolauskirche since 1511, has a Gothic choir and a wall tabernacle from 1427. The church also has an altar of twelve messengers with 13 original figures of Christ and the 12 apostles, which were placed in a new altar case after the church was renovated in 1953. The church was renovated in 1969/70.

Hohenstadt and Schechingen remained Catholic after the Reformation. Protestant residents mainly moved here only after the Second World War. These were assigned to the parish of Obergröningen. Since the 1990s, however, Protestant services have also been celebrated in the Catholic Church in Schechingen.

Parish of Oberrot

The parish of Oberrot (approx. 1,900) includes the parish of Oberrot with the exception of a few smaller hamlets that belong to the parish of Großerlach, whereby the hamlets of Frankenberg and Seehölzle were still part of the parish of Westheim in the church district of Schwäbisch Hall until 1952, and by an announcement by the upper church council of April 17th 1952 in the parish of Oberrot were reclassified. The parish of Oberrot, together with the parishes of Fichtenberg and Münster, form the “Rottal” district of the Gaildorf parish. The Bonifatius Church in Oberrot was first mentioned in a document in 788. It is one of the oldest churches in the Schwäbisch Hall district. However, nothing is visible of the foundation building. In 1513 a new church was built, while the tower from the 10th century was retained. In the following centuries the church was rebuilt and expanded several times. The Reformation was introduced in Oberrot around 1550. In 1887 the church was rebuilt in the historicism style according to plans by the Württemberg architect Heinrich Dolmetsch . In 1955 the interior of the church was fundamentally modernized. A comprehensive restoration took place between 1992 and 1994, during which the woodwork was largely restored to its 1887 appearance.

The place Hausen an der Rot has always belonged to the parish of Oberrot, with which it was reformed. After the Thirty Years' War, the Comburg monastery resettled Catholics in Hausen an der Rot, so that in 1696 two thirds of the place was Catholic. The Catholic community then built a chapel. In 1710 its own Catholic parish was established and in 1750 the whole place was Catholic. Only after the Second World War did Protestant residents move to Hausen again. These were assigned to the parish of Oberrot.

Parish of Obersontheim

Evangelical parish church Obersontheim

The Obersontheim parish (approx. 2,350) comprises the main town of Obersontheim as well as the Bühlertann parish (excluding the Kottspiel part ) and the Markertshofen residential area of the Gründelhardt part of the Frankenhardt parish . The Obersontheim districts of Untersontheim, Mittelfischach and Oberfischach form independent parishes. Gründelhardt also forms its own parish within the Crailsheim church district. In terms of church, Obersontheim initially belonged to Untersontheim. A church of St. Cyriakus in Obersontheim was first mentioned in 1448. The patronage was the Ellwangen Monastery . Nevertheless, Limpurg introduced the Reformation in 1530 and converted the chaplain into a court parish. In 1578 Limpurg finally acquired the right of patronage in exchange. In 1585/86 the Limpurg taverns had today's church built. From 1613 the respective court preacher in Obersontheim held the title of superintendent. In 1922 the church was renovated. The south and castle lofts were demolished. The church has numerous tombs from the Limpurg taverns, including a sandstone epitaph of Frederick II and his wife.

Bühlertann remained Catholic after the Reformation as a result of belonging to Ellwangen. Protestant residents mainly moved to Bühlertann after the Second World War. They were assigned to the parish of Obersontheim. In the meantime, however, a separate church has been built in Bühlertann.

Markertshofen was always ecclesiastically near Obersontheim and has remained so to this day, although politically it belongs to Gründelhardt and thus to the Frankenhardt community. There is no church of its own in Markertshofen. But also in Markertshofen there are services around 3 to 4 times a year on Saturday evening in the village community center.

Parish of Ottendorf

The parish of Ottendorf (approx. 750) includes the district of Ottendorf with the associated hamlets of Adelbach, Niederndorf, Railhalde and Spöck of the city of Gaildorf. Ecclesiastically Ottendorf originally belonged to Westheim. In 1347 a branch church is called St. Martin. After the Reformation, the Wuerttemberg church regime was in effect in Ottendorf and the Swabian-Hall church order in Westheim. In 1898 Ottendorf became its own parish. The church in Ottendorf was built in 1452 in place of an earlier church as a fortified church in the late Gothic style. It has a star rib vault in the tower basement. The tower and nave were changed in 1872 and 1903.

Parish Sulzbach-Laufen

The parish Sulzbach-Laufen includes the political community Sulzbach-Laufen .

A church in Sulzbach am Kocher was first mentioned in 1285. The church is probably older. In 1520 it was referred to as Michael's Church. In 1548 the Reformation was introduced and from 1550 the neighboring town of Laufen am Kocher was assigned to the parish. 1594 was by Schenk Johann III. and Countess Eleonore (whose monuments have been in the castle church again since 1998, before they had been in the choir of the Michaelskirche since 1963) built the castle church in Schlossschmiedelfeld, where the Sulzbach pastor was also court preacher. In 1711 the Michaelskirche was renovated and in 1753 the nave was widened to the north and extended to the west, and two galleries were built. In 1868 Laufen got its own pastor again and in 1870 Laufen became an independent parish again. In 1892/93 the Michaelskirche was extensively renovated by interpreting. The tower was demolished and the current tower was rebuilt. The interior of the church was completely renewed, the second gallery on the north side removed, a high barrel vault built into the nave and the entire interior of the nave decorated with colored ornaments, which was removed again in 1963. From 1995 to 1998 the Michaelskirche was renovated again. A picture of Luther can be seen in the Michaelskirche, which was procured in 1846 by decision of the foundation council on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Luther's death.

Schlossschmiedelfeld had been the seat of a branch of the Limpurg family since 1557. In 1594 the castle church was built near the castle. The monuments of the builders have been in it again since 1998. The church is also the burial place of Limpurg-Schlossschmiedelfeld. In 1830 it was secularized and the organ moved to St. Michael's Church. The castle church was restored in the 1990s.

The rectory in Sulzbach was rebuilt in 1842 because the previous one was in poor condition. With effect from June 8, 1995, the Gerabronn residential district of the Sulzbach parish was reclassified into the Geifertshofen parish.

A church was also mentioned for the first time in 1285 in the district of Laufen am Kocher . From 1520 it is called St. Peter's Church. The patronage was the Murrhardt Monastery, who sold it to Limpurg in 1414. After the Reformation in 1543 under Schenk Wilhelm von Limpurg, Laufen was connected to the parish of Sulzbach. After the Church of St. Peter collapsed in 1806, it was demolished until 1819. The center of the Protestant community then became the church on the Heerberg, a hamlet belonging to Laufen. The local former pilgrimage church of Our Lady from the 15th century became a place of worship and in 1867 the seat of a parish administration and finally in 1875 a parish. The church dates back to the 15th century and has a reticulated vaulted choir closed on three sides with Gothic tracery windows. In 1944 Laufen became a non-independent parish for a few years until 1972. In 1973 Laufen became a permanent parish office again. In 1969 the church was rebuilt. In 1980 the parish built a community center.

The parishes of Sulzbach am Kocher (as of 2005: approx. 1,100 members) and Laufen am Kocher (as of 2005: approx. 750 members) were dissolved on January 1, 2017. At the same time, the Evangelical Parish Sulzbach-Laufen was founded from its parish districts.

Parish of Untergröningen

The parish Untergröningen (approx. 740) includes the district Untergröningen of the municipality Abtsgmünd, whereby the associated hamlet Öchsenhof belonged to the parish of Eschach (today church district Schwäbisch Gmünd) until 1911 and was reclassified to the parish of Untergröningen by the announcement of the consistory of March 18, 1911 .

Ecclesiastically, Untergröningen initially belonged to Obergröningen. The Limpurg taverns introduced the Reformation in the 16th century. From 1610 the services were celebrated in the castle chapel of Untergröningen Castle . In 1774 Princess Maria Friederike Sophia Charlotte von Hohenlohe-Bartenstein inherited the castle. Since she was Catholic, she had her own church built for the Protestant residents on the Schlossberg so that the castle church could be used as a Catholic. Until the completion of the church, the evangelicals held their services in the schoolhouse. The princess died before the church was inaugurated in 1777. The congregation was able to take over the bells and equipment of the castle church in the new church. The church building was furnished in the Baroque style. In 1859 Untergröningen became its own parish. Until the 20th century, only a roof turret adorned the outside of the church. After the Second World War, the roof turret was removed and a tower was built. It was completed in 1953. The ringing consists of four bells.

Parish of Untersontheim

The parish of Untersontheim (approx. 750) includes the district of Untersontheim with the associated hamlets of the community of Obersontheim. In terms of church, Untersontheim was initially a branch of Bühlertann. A church of All Saints has been mentioned since 1347. At the end of the 14th century, Untersontheim became its own parish, which was initially referred to as a sub-parish. Ellwangen had the right of patronage. The imperial city of Schwäbisch Hall and the Limpurg taverns introduced the Reformation, but the patronage remained with Ellwangen, Schwäbisch Hall had the right to examine. Today's church stands in a walled churchyard. Until 2006 the parish belonged to the church district Schwäbisch Hall. As a result of its political affiliation to Obersontheim, whose three other parishes (Obersontheim, Mittelfischach and Oberfischach) belong to the parish of Gaildorf, the parish of Untersontheim also moved to the Gaildorf deanery with effect from January 1, 2007.

Until 1941, the hamlet of Merkelbach belonging to Vellberg also belonged to the parish of Untersontheim. By announcement of June 18, 1941, this hamlet was reclassified to the parish of Stöckenburg (church district Schwäbisch Hall).

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 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Hermann Kissling : Frickenhofen and his church. In: Ostalb / Einhorn 19 (1992), Issue 75, pp. 278-283 ( Internet Archive ).