Church district Schwäbisch Gmünd
| Basic data | |
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| Regional Church : | Evangelical Church in Württemberg |
| Prelature : | Ulm |
| Area : | km² |
| Structure: | 20 parishes |
| Parishioners: | approx. 35,000 (2005) |
| Address of the Dean's Office : |
Oberbettringer Str. 21 73525 Schwäbisch Gmünd |
| Dean : | Ursula Richter |
| map | |
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The Evangelical Church District Schwäbisch Gmünd is one of 44 church districts or church districts of the Evangelical Church in Württemberg . Its area is congruent with the deanery Schwäbisch Gmünd.
geography
The church district Schwäbisch Gmünd is in the east of the Württemberg regional church. Its area mainly comprises the upper Rems valley and parts of the Welzheimer forest . Its parishes belong to the political towns and cities of Bartholomä , Böbingen an der Rems , Durlangen , Eschach , Göggingen , Leinzell , Lorch , Mögglingen , Mutlangen , Ruppertshofen , Schwäbisch Gmünd , Spraitbach , Täferrot and Waldstetten in the Ostalb district .
Neighboring church districts
The church district Schwäbisch Gmünd borders on the following church districts (starting clockwise in the east): Aalen , Heidenheim , Geislingen an der Steige , Göppingen (all prelature Ulm ) and Schorndorf and Gaildorf ( prelature Heilbronn ).
history
In contrast to most of the deaneries of the Württemberg regional church, which were established soon after the Reformation, the Schwäbisch Gmünd church district was newly founded in the 1950s. As a result of the increased influx of Protestant residents into the predominantly Catholic area of Schwäbisch Gmünd, especially after the Second World War, the Schwäbisch Gmünd church district was founded. It was created on April 1, 1951 from the western areas of the parish of Aalen (at that time the five parishes of Schwäbisch Gmünd, Bartholomä, Heubach, Oberböbingen and Waldstetten), four parishes of the parish of Gaildorf (Eschach, Göggingen, Ruppertshofen and Spraitbach) and two parishes of the parish Welzheim (Lindach and Täferrot). He was assigned to the Ulm Prelature.
With effect from January 1, 1978, the Welzheim church district was dissolved. The four parishes of Großdeinbach, Lorch, Weitmars and Waldhausen were assigned to the Schwäbisch Gmünd church district. Due to the division of the Schwäbisch Gmünd parish and the formation of new parishes, the total number of parishes in the Schwäbisch Gmünd church district increased to 20 today.
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 is Ursula Richter, who is also pastor at the Augustinus Church in Schwäbisch Gmünd .
Deans of the Schwäbisch Gmünd church district since 1951
not yet complete
- 1951–1955 Wilhelm Teufel (first parish priest in Schwäbisch Gmünd since 1936)
- 1955–1966 Heinrich Lang (* 1900, † 1976)
- 1979–1998 Werner Frank (* 1935)
- 1998–2003 Martin Büser (* 1945)
- 2003–2015 Immanuel Nau (* 1951)
- Since 2015 Ursula Richter (* 1958)
Parishes
There are a total of 20 parishes in the Schwäbisch Gmünd church district. Of these, five parishes have merged to form the Schwäbisch Gmünd Parish, but remain legally independent. Before 1800, the area of the church district Schwäbisch Gmünd belonged mainly to the imperial city of Schwäbisch Gmünd, which remained Catholic after the Reformation. Protestant residents have also moved here since the 19th century and mostly only after the Second World War, so that the Protestant parishes are relatively young here. The areas around the cities of Heubach and Lorch, however, belong to the old heartland of Württemberg (old Oberämter Heubach and Lorch, later Welzheim ), where the Reformation was introduced from 1534. These areas are therefore predominantly Protestant and there are mostly old Protestant churches and parishes. The parish numbers given in brackets after the name of the parish relate to the year 2005 and have been rounded.
Bartholomä parish
The parish of Bartholomä (approx. 800) includes the parish of Bartholomä. A church of St. Bartholomew in Laubenhart, as the community was called until the 16th century, is mentioned in 1484. It came through the von Rechbergs to those of Woellwarth , who introduced the Reformation. The church is a Romanesque choir tower that was annexed in 1510. It was renovated in 1741 and 1958. The altar crucifix dates from 1490. The parish has a trumpet choir and a gospel choir ("One Voice").
Parish of Degenfeld-Unterbettringen
The parish of Degenfeld-Unterbettringen (approx. 1,150) comprises the districts of Degenfeld , Unterbettringen and Weiler in the mountains of the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd. A church in Degenfeld was mentioned as early as 1275. The patronage had from 1597 Württemberg, which introduced the Reformation in its area. The Rechberg parts of the place remained Catholic. The church of St. Sebastian and Walburga is in a formerly fortified churchyard. It was built in the 12th century. The ship was later extended. The ceiling was drawn in in the 17th century. The superstructure of the tower dates from the 16./17. Century. In 1936 the church was renewed.
Until 1917 the parish of Degenfeld belonged to the parish of Aalen. By announcement of the consistory of May 9, 1917, the parish of Degenfeld was reclassified to the church district of Göppingen. According to the announcement of the upper church council of February 13, 1975, the parish of Degenfeld was then reclassified into the church district of Schwäbisch Gmünd, separating its previously associated places Nenningen and Weißenstein. Nenningen and Weißenstein, however, were affiliated with the Donzdorf parish in the Geislingen church district. The evangelical residents of the Schwäbisch Gmünder districts of Unterbettringen and Weiler in the mountains, which until then belonged to the parish of Waldstetten, were assigned to the parish of Degenfeld. Both places remained Catholic after the Reformation. Mostly only after the Second World War did Protestant residents move in, who were initially assigned to the Degenfeld parish. With the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on January 30, 1984, the parish of Degenfeld was renamed the parish of Degenfeld-Unterbettringen . Today there is also its own church in Unterbettringen, the Reconciliation Church, built in 1967. The parish of Degenfeld-Unterbettringen is responsible for a kindergarten. She also has a church choir.
Eschach parish
The parish of Eschach (approx. 1,000) includes the parish of Eschach . A church was mentioned in Eschach in 1361 when the Counts of Oettingen sold the church set to the Ellwangen monastery . From there it came to the Limpurg tavern in 1380 . In 1417 she was called St. Johannes Baptist. The Limpurg tavern introduced the Reformation. The originally Romanesque choir tower church was rebuilt in the late Gothic style in the 15th century. It has Gothic wall paintings on the ceiling of the sacristy. The high altar from 1496 shows carved figures (Madonna, Apostle John). There is a children's choir, a church choir and a trombone choir in the parish of Eschach.
From 1920 the parish of Eschach also looked after the Protestant residents of Leinzell, who until then belonged to the parish of Täferrot.
Until 1911, the hamlet of Öchsenhof, which was part of the Untergröningen community at that time, also belonged to the Eschach parish. By announcement of the consistory of March 18, 1911, this was assigned to the parish of Untergröningen (parish of Gaildorf). At that time the parish of Eschach also belonged to the parish of Gaildorf.
Parish of Göggingen-Leinzell
The parish of Göggingen -Leinzell (approx. 1,350) includes the parishes of Göggingen and Leinzell . Göggingen was an ecclesiastical branch of Leinzell. Politically, several gentlemen had estates in Göggingen. Most did not introduce the Reformation, so that Göggingen remained predominantly Catholic. Only the parts belonging to Lorch and thus to Württemberg became Protestant. They were assigned to the parish Täferrot, as the chapel in Göggingen belonged to the Catholic parish of Leinzell. However, from 1577 the chapel was used simultaneously. In 1898 the evangelical community built its own church in neo-Gothic style. Göggingen later became the seat of its own parish, from which Leinzell was also looked after.
Leinzell remained Catholic after the Reformation. The few Protestant residents initially belonged to the parish Täferrot (church district Welzheim). By the announcement of the consistory on February 4, 1920, they were assigned to the branch parish of Göggingen (at that time parish of Gaildorf) and thus to the parish of Eschach. When Göggingen became its own parish, Leinzell was also looked after by the Göggingen parish. In 1971/72 an own church was built in Leinzell and the seat of the parish was moved from Göggingen to Leinzell. Since then, the parish has had its current double name.
Parish of Großdeinbach
The parish of Großdeinbach (approx. 1,330) includes the district of Großdeinbach and some associated hamlets of the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd. Ecclesiastically, Großdeinbach and the surrounding area belonged to Lorch. In 1897 a separate parish was established for Großdeinbach and a few hamlets. The parish church was the chapel dedicated to St. Maria, Bernhard and Katharina , built in 1496, demolished in 1671 and then rebuilt . This was replaced in 1900 by the current building designed by the architect Dolmetsch. Some of the hamlets belonging to the Großdeinbach district still belong to the parish of Lorch, Waldau zu Waldstetten. The hamlet of Radelstetten, which belongs to Großdeinbach, was reclassified from the parish of Lorch to the Weststadt parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd with effect from July 1, 1993, together with the Sachsenhof.
Until 1961 the Schwäbisch Gmünder district of Wetzgau also belonged to the parish of Großdeinbach. By announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on January 10, 1961, Wetzgau was assigned to the former parish Schwäbisch Gmünd (today Martin Luther parish).
Heubach parish
The parish of Heubach (approx. 3,550) comprises the city of Heubach and the Bargau district of the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd. The parish church of St. Ulrich in Heubach was first mentioned in 1332. In 1358 it came to the Königsbronn monastery , to which it was incorporated in 1388. From 1553 to 1556 Württemberg bought the patronage rights from the Königsbronn monastery and introduced the Reformation. In addition to the parish church, there was also an Afra chapel and a Bernhard chapel. At that time, Oberböbingen also belonged to the parish in addition to today's places. The St. Ulrich church in Heubach, a former fortified church, was initially a two-aisled pillar basilica. The ribbed choir was built around 1441. After the fire of 1634 it was given a flat wooden ceiling. In 1968/69 the church was renovated. A 16th century fresco was uncovered on the north wall.
The Heubach districts of Beuren, Buch and Lautern as well as the Schwäbisch Gmünder district of Bargau remained Catholic after the Reformation. Only Lautern partly belonged to the von Woellwarth, who introduced the Reformation. However, Protestant residents did not move to these places until after the Second World War. They were assigned to the parish of Heubach, but Lautern only with effect from January 1, 1980. Before that, the Protestant residents of Lautern belonged to the parish of Lauterburg in the parish of Aalen . For several years now, Protestant services have been celebrated in the Catholic parish hall in Bargau and in the village house in Lautern.
Parish of Lindach-Mutlangen
The parish of Lindach-Mutlangen (approx. 2,700) comprises the Lindach district of the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd and the municipality of Mutlangen as well as the hamlets of Amandusmühle and Durlanger Mühle in the municipality of Durlangen. Lindach initially belonged to Iggingen. A chapel of St. Nicholas was mentioned in 1356. Württemberg introduced the Reformation as the liege lord of Laymingen . After that a common parish was set up with Täferrot. With the announcement of the consistory on January 12, 1909, Lindach was again set up its own parish administration. The church in Lindach was changed in 1524 by adding a Gothic tower to the medieval chapel. The ship was demolished in 1903 and rebuilt under the architect Dolmetsch. However, the ribbed vaulted choir of the previous building was preserved.
Mutlangen with Pfersbach and Durlangen and its districts remained Catholic after the Reformation. The initially only a few Protestant residents of the community of Mutlangen were assigned to the parish of Lindach by an announcement by the consistory of January 12, 1909. Most of the Protestant residents who moved to the other places only after the Second World War were assigned to the parishes of Alfdorf (Pfersbach), Täferrot (main town Durlangen) and Spraitbach, whereby the hamlet of Durlangen, which belonged to Durlangen, belonged to the parish of Täferrot until 1931 and through the announcement of Oberkirchenrats was assigned to the parish of Lindach on January 22, 1931. With effect from January 1, 1980, the Protestant residents of Pfersbach were also reclassified from the parish of Alfdorf (Schorndorf parish) to the Schwäbisch Gmünd parish and also assigned to the Lindach parish.
With effect from March 4, 1997, the Lindach parish was renamed the Lindach-Mutlangen parish.
Lorch parish
The parish of Lorch (approx. 3,700) comprises the core town of Lorch and all the associated hamlets. The districts of Waldhausen and Weitmars form their own parishes. Lorch has one of the oldest parish churches in the entire area. The parish church of St. Maria, to which Schwäbisch Gmünd also belonged in the beginning, was converted into a collegiate monastery as early as 1060. The founders were probably members of the Hohenstaufen family, who were buried in the parish church until 1140. Numerous parishes were separated from Lorch until the 15th century. However, there were initially four benefices, two of which were incorporated there after the Lorch Monastery was founded. The other two belonged to the cathedral monastery of Augsburg , which they ceded to Württemberg in 1539 and 1558. The Lorchian benefices provided the parishes of the churches in Alfdorf and Wäschenbeuren. After the Reformation, two parishes remained at the parish church. The old parish church was destroyed by fire in 1340 and 1460, but was rebuilt in 1474. The choir is vaulted with mesh ribs, the nave is flat-roofed. In 1728 a gallery was built in, which was removed again during the interior renovation in 1958. The font and the wall cross date from the 15th century.
The monastery church is - like the entire Lorch monastery - owned by the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Today there are two parish offices in Lorch, North and South, with the South Parish also looking after the Weitmar parish. The Lorch parish is responsible for three kindergartens, East, West and Mörike Kindergarten. Until the 19th century, Großdeinbach and its hamlets also belonged to the parish of Lorch, before their own parish was founded there. The hamlet of Radelstetten , which belongs to Großdeinbach, was only reclassified from the parish of Lorch to the western town parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd with effect from July 1, 1993, together with the Sachsenhof.
Until 1974, the Protestant residents from Wäschenbeuren and the associated hamlets of Beutenmühle , Lindenbronn, Schützenhof, Wäscherhof and Ziegelhütte also belonged to the parish of Lorch. However, through the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on October 17, 1974, these were reclassified to the parish of Göppingen and incorporated into the parish Rechberghausen, which until then was still a subsidiary parish of Bartenbach, at that time was separated from the mother parish of Bartenbach and raised to the status of an independent parish.
Until 1931, the then branch church community of Waldhausen and the parish of Lorch formed the overall parish of Lorch. By the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on August 22, 1931, the Waldhausen branch parish was separated from the Lorch parish and raised to an independent parish. The settlements Rattenharz and Pulzhof, which until then belonged to the parish of Lorch, were assigned to it.
Evangelical monastery church
City Church
Main entrance of the city church
Parish of Oberböbingen
The parish of Oberböbingen (approx. 2,480) includes the communities of Böbingen an der Rems , Heuchlingen , Mögglingen and the Schönhardt district of the Iggingen community (the other districts belong to the Täferrot parish). Böbingen an der Rems was formed in 1939 from the previously independent municipalities of Oberböbingen and Unterböbingen. Both communities have different histories. Ecclesiastically, both places initially belonged to Heubach. The church in Oberböbingen, known from 1558 as St. Michaelskirche, today's parish church of the parish of Oberböbingen, was probably raised to a parish church before 1358. The right of patronage had initially the hoes of Rosenstein, then the monastery Königsbronn , from which it came to Württemberg. Since the imperial city of Schwäbisch Gmünd also had goods in Oberböbingen, the place was divided. The Reformation was introduced in the Württemberg part, the Gmünder part remained Catholic. Gmünd assigned his subjects to the parish of Mögglingen. The Oberböbinger church became Protestant. It is located in a former cemetery. It was built as a Romanesque chapel, then extended in a late Gothic style. The ship is flat-decked.
Before the Reformation, Unterböbingen was divided into various smaller rulers, including the imperial city of Gmünd. The Unterböbingen church became a branch church after the parish of Oberböbingen was established. The authority over the church in Unterböbingen, known from 1556 as St. Nikolauskirche, later Bartholomäuskirche, had Württemberg. Of the Unterböbingen lordships only those of Woellwarth introduced the Reformation, but this was reversed by his successors. After Oberböbingen became Protestant, the imperial city of Gmünd also assigned its subjects in Unterböbingen to the parish of Mögglingen. The Unterböbingen church was then a branch of Oberböbingen. In 1813 it was canceled. In 1695 the Augsburg monastery built a Catholic chapel in Unterböbingen, which was later elevated to a parish. The majority of the population in Unterböbingen is therefore traditionally Catholic.
Mögglingen and Heuchlingen as well as Schönhardt remained Catholic after the Reformation. The few Protestant residents were assigned to the parish of Oberböbingen and, in the case of Heuchlingen, to the parish of Leinroden (church district Aalen). Mostly after the Second World War, more and more Protestant residents moved to these places. In 1968 a separate church, the Christ Church, was finally built in Mögglingen. Also in the Georgskapelle Heuchlingen, a medieval foundation of a gentleman von Rechberg, Protestant services of the parish of Oberböbingen take place regularly in summer. Today the parish of Oberböbingen has two parishes, the second being called “Mögglingen”.
By the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on April 20, 1964, the Protestant residents of Herlikofen were assigned to the parish of Oberböbingen by the parish of Täferrot. With effect from April 1, 1973, Herlikofen, together with the towns of Hussenhofen (which had only been reclassified from the Schwäbisch Gmünd parish to the Oberböbingen parish through the announcement of the upper church council of April 12, 1955), Hirschmühle, Birkhof, Burgholz and Zimmer, became part of the parish Oberböbingen separated and merged to form the independent parish of Hussenhofen (today Johanneskirche parish Schwäbisch Gmünd). In return, the Protestant residents of the community of Heuchlingen were reclassified from the church district of Aalen to the church district of Schwäbisch Gmünd on April 1, 1973 and assigned to the parish of Oberböbingen.
The parish of Oberböbingen also has a church choir and a trombone choir.
Ruppertshofen parish
The parish of Ruppertshofen (approx. 830) includes the parish of Ruppertshofen with the exception of a few smaller hamlets that belong to the parish of Frickenhofen ( parish of Gaildorf). Ruppertshofen was an ecclesiastical branch of Täferrot. A St. Nikolaus chapel in Ruppertshofen was mentioned in 1501. The Limpurg taverns introduced the Reformation. From 1600, Ruppertshofen was also a subsidiary of Frickenhofen. The old chapel in Ruppertshofen burned down in 1609 and was rebuilt in 1610. Today it is called "Käpelle".
In 1839 a separate parish administration was established for the towns of Tonolzbronn and Ruppertshofen, which belong to the municipality of Ruppertshofen , especially since Tonolzbronn has an old church (St. Stephanus). This originally Gothic church, whose tower choir was rebuilt in 1780, was completely renovated in 1815. Some of the icons of the old church have been preserved. Today it is the main church of the Protestant parish of Ruppertshofen.
General parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd
The entire parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd includes the core town and the districts of Herlikofen , Hussenhofen , Hirschmühle , Birkhof, Burgholz and Zimmer as well as Oberbettringen in the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd . The districts of Degenfeld (with Weiler and Unterbettringen), Großdeinbach and Lindach form their own parishes. The districts of Rechberg and Straßdorf belong to the parish of Waldstetten, the district of Bargau to the parish of Heubach. The entire church community Schwäbisch Gmünd was formed with effect from December 5, 1971, when the until then sole parish Schwäbisch Gmünd was divided into the four parishes of the Augustinian parish Schwäbisch Gmünd, peace parish Schwäbisch Gmünd, Martin Luther parish Schwäbisch Gmünd and Weststadt parish Schwäbisch Gmünd the entire parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd were merged. The Ministry of Culture recognized the entire parish and the particular parishes as corporations under public law in a letter dated October 25 and 19, 1971. With effect from April 1, 1973, the independent parish of Hussenhofen (Johanneskirche parish of Hussenhofen since 1984) was founded for the districts of Herlikofen, Hussenhofen, Hirschmühle, Birkhof, Burgholz and Zimmer, so that the entire parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd today consists of five parishes.
In Schwäbisch Gmünd, the Old Pietist Community Association maintains its Schönblick conference and recreation center in the Rehnenhof district , where there is now its own Schönblick Evangelical Community (“Community Community”).
Augustine parish Schwäbisch Gmünd
The Augustinus parish Schwäbisch Gmünd (approx.3,400) comprises parts of the core city of Schwäbisch Gmünd, especially the historic old town. Schwäbisch Gmünd remained Catholic after the Reformation. Only after the transition of the former Free Imperial City to Württemberg in 1803 did Protestant residents also move to Schwäbisch Gmünd. As early as 1806, the former Augustine Church became a Protestant garrison church. In 1817 it became the city's first Protestant parish church. In 1951 it became the seat of a deanery and was the only Protestant parish church in the city until after the Second World War. As a result of the strong growth, new Protestant churches were built and their own parishes founded. In 1951 the Martin Luther Church in Rehnenhof was built, in 1961 the Friedenskirche and later another community center in Weststadt. The independent Augustinus parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd then came into being with effect from December 5, 1971, when the former parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd was divided into four parishes. Since then, together with the Johannesgemeinde Hussenhofen, established in 1973, these have formed the Evangelical General Church Community of Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Today there are two parishes in the Augustine parish Schwäbisch Gmünd: Central and East.
Until 1955, the district of Hussenhofen also belonged to the Schwäbisch Gmünd parish. However, through the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on April 12, 1955, Hussenhofen was separated from the Schwäbisch Gmünd parish and incorporated into the Oberböbingen parish. Since 1973, however, Hussenhofen has formed an independent parish with other places (today Johanneskirchengemeinde Schwäbisch Gmünd).
Peace Parish Schwäbisch Gmünd
The peace parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd (around 2,100) comprises the eastern part of the city and the Oberbettringen district of the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd. As a result of the strong growth in Schwäbisch Gmünd, new Protestant churches were built after the Second World War and their own parishes were founded. So in 1951 the Martin Luther Church in Rehnenhof and in 1961 the Peace Church. With effect from December 5, 1971, the independent peace parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd was established there when the former parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd was divided into four parishes. In addition to the Friedenskirche, the Friedenskirche community also has the Arche community center. The parish is also responsible for two kindergartens, the Friedenskirche kindergarten on Peter- und Paul-Straße and the Arche kindergarten on Ziegeläckerstraße. She also has a church choir.
The district of the Friedenskirche within the then sole parish Schwäbisch Gmünd also included the places Waldstetten, Ober- and Unterbettringen, Rechberg, Straßdorf and Weiler in the mountains until 1949, before the independent parish of Waldstetten was formed for them, which was also smaller hamlets of other parishes were assigned. By announcement of November 19, 1970, Oberbettringen was detached from the Waldstetten parish and assigned to the former parish Schwäbisch Gmünd, where it has been part of the peace parish since 1971. However, Unterbettringen came to the parish of Degenfeld in 1975 from the parish of Waldstetten.
Johanneskirche Hussenhofen
The Johanneskirche parish of Hussenhofen (approx. 1,250) comprises the districts of Herlikofen , Hussenhofen , Hirschmühle, Birkhof, Burgholz andzimmer of the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd. Like Schwäbisch Gmünd, the districts remained Catholic even after the Reformation. Protestant residents also moved in mainly after the Second World War. They were initially assigned to the parish of Oberböbingen. In 1969, a separate parish was founded in Hussenhofen and, with effect from April 1, 1973, the independent parish of Hussenhofen was founded within the entire parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd for the above-mentioned places. By the announcement of the upper church council on August 28, 1984 it was renamed Johanneskirchengemeinde Hussenhofen. As a church, the parish of Hussenhofen received the former Catholic church, built in 1913 as the Leonhard Church. The Catholic parish had built a new Leonhard Church in 1967 and sold the previous church to the Protestant parish in Hussenhofen. The Johanneskirchengemeinde Hussenhofen also runs a kindergarten.
Martin Luther parish Schwäbisch Gmünd
The Martin Luther parish Schwäbisch Gmünd (approx. 1,450) comprises parts of the core city and the Rehnenhof-Wetzgau district of the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd. As a result of the strong growth after the Second World War, new Protestant churches were built in Schwäbisch Gmünd and their own parishes were founded. This is how the Martin Luther Church in Rehnenhof was built after the Augustinian Church in 1951.
Through the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on January 10, 1961, the district of Wetzgau was reclassified from the parish of Großdeinbach to the former parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd and assigned to the district of the Martin Luther Church. At this point, when the parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd was divided into four parishes, the independent Martin Luther parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd was established with effect from December 5, 1971.
Weststadtkirchengemeinde Schwäbisch Gmünd
The western town parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd (approx. 1,350) includes the western town of Schwäbisch Gmünd and some smaller hamlets. As a result of the strong growth after the Second World War, new Protestant churches were built and their own parishes were founded. In 1951, the Martin Luther Church was built in Rehnenhof, in 1961 the Friedenskirche and later another community center with a community hall on Eugen-Bolz-Strasse in Weststadt. With effect from December 5, 1971, the independent western town parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd was established there when the former parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd was divided into four parishes. The western town parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd was enlarged with effect from July 1, 1993 by the hamlets of Radelstetten and Sachsenhof belonging to Großdeinbach. Until then, these two places belonged to the parish of Lorch.
Parish of Spraitbach
The parish of Spraitbach (approx. 1,450) comprises the parish of Spraitbach and some parts of the parish of Durlangen . Spraitbach, as well as Durlangen and its districts remained Catholic after the Reformation. Since the 19th century, however, Protestant residents also moved to Spraitbach, they were assigned to the Täferrot parish. But in 1904 Spraitbach got his own pastor. The Protestant parish of Spraitbach received the old, previously Catholic church (St. Michael) as the parish church after the Catholic parish had built a new church. Michaelskirche was built in 1489/90 as a single-nave late Gothic square structure with a ribbed tower choir. The nave was rebuilt in 1902. Since 1525 it was known as St. Blasius Church.
Mostly Protestant residents also moved to Durlangen after the Second World War. Some districts of Durlangens were assigned to the parish of Spraitbach, the others to the parishes of Täferrot and Lindach.
Täferrot parish
The parish of Täferrot (approx. 1,380) comprises the parishes of Täferrot and Iggingen (excluding the Schönhardt district) as well as the main town and residential area of Bruckacker in the Durlangen community . A church was first mentioned in Täferrot in 1298. Several neighboring towns belonged to the district. Württemberg introduced the Reformation. After that, Protestant residents of the otherwise predominantly Catholic places also belonged to the parish. During the Thirty Years' War Frickenhofen also belonged to the parish district. The parish church in Täferrot was rebuilt from 1491 to 1493. The tower base of the previous Romanesque building was retained. The ship has a wooden ceiling. The pulpit is baroque. The Gothic choir stalls and a Gothic crucifix are still preserved.
Iggingen and Durlangen remained Catholic after the Reformation. Mostly Protestant residents also moved here after the Second World War. Most of them were assigned to the Täferrot parish. The Iggingen district of Schönhardt, however, belongs to the parish of Oberböbingen. Some hamlets in the municipality of Durlangen also belong to the parishes of Lindach and Spraitbach.
Until 1931, the hamlet of Durlangen, which was part of Durlangen, also belonged to the Täferrot parish. By the announcement of the upper church council of January 22, 1931 this was assigned to the parish of Lindach. Until 1965, the Protestant residents of Herlikofen also belonged to the Täferrot parish. By announcement of April 20, 1964 these were assigned to the parish of Oberböbingen. Since 1973, however, they have belonged to the newly formed parish of Hussenhofen (today Johanneskirchengemeinde Schwäbisch Gmünd).
The Protestant residents of Leinzell were also looked after by the parish of Täferrot until 1920, before they were assigned to the parish of Göggingen and thus to the parish of Eschach by the consistory of February 4, 1920.
Waldhausen parish
The parish of Waldhausen (approx. 1,600) includes the district of Waldhausen and the associated hamlets of Rattenharz , Pulzhof, Erlenhof, Vogelhof, Waldhäuser Mühle and the Elisabethenberg of the city of Lorch, whereby the hamlet of Vogelhof with Elisabethenberg still belonged to the parish of Plüderhausen until 1907 and through the announcement of the Consistory of December 10, 1907 in the parish of Waldhausen was reclassified.
Ecclesiastically, Waldhausen always belonged to Lorch and was assigned to the collegiate church incorporated into Lorch Monastery. In 1507 the monastery approved the construction of a chapel to Our Lady. In 1659 the chapel was renewed after war damage, but demolished in 1957. As early as 1954 to 1956, today's Martin Luther Church was built next to the old church.
Until 1931 Waldhausen formed a branch parish of the parish of Lorch, with which it was merged in the overall parish of Lorch. By the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on August 22, 1931, the Waldhausen branch parish was separated from the Lorch parish and raised to an independent parish. The settlements Rattenharz and Putzhof, which until then belonged to the parish of Lorch, were assigned to it. At the same time, Waldhausen was given a parish administration and in 1966 its own parish. In 1973 the parish built a parish hall. The parish also runs a kindergarten.
In the Rattenharz district there has been a chapel since 1959, which was originally built as a burial chapel. Since the year after the inauguration, it has also been used as a regular “village church” with regular church services.
Waldstetten parish
The parish of Waldstetten (approx. 2,000) comprises the community of Waldstetten (including the Wißgoldingen district ) and the Rechberg and Straßdorf districts of the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd. Waldstetten, Wißgoldingen, Rechberg and Straßdorf remained Catholic after the Reformation. Mostly Protestant residents moved to these places only after the Second World War. They were initially assigned to the parish of Schwäbisch Gmünd. The independent parish of Waldstetten was formed through the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on November 22, 1949, after the Ministry of Culture recognized the parish of Waldstetten as a public corporation in a letter of September 15, 1949. The parish of Waldstetten initially comprised the places Waldstetten, Ober- and Unterbettringen, Rechberg, Straßdorf and Weiler in the mountains (which until then all belonged to the parish Schwäbisch Gmünd) as well as the hamlets of Fuchshof (municipality of Rechberg) and Hinterhochstett (municipality of Staßdort), which belonged to the The Hohenstaufen parish included Ziegerhof (Großdeinbach parish) and Schönbronn (Straßdorf parish), which belonged to the Lorch parish, and Wißgoldingen with Bödnis, Frauenholz, Kapellhaus, Krähberger Hof and Talmühle, which belonged to the Degenfeld parish. Wißgoldingen was, however, assigned to the then newly founded parish of Donzdorf by an announcement of April 23, 1957. In 1958, a church of its own, the Erlöserkirche, was built in Waldstetten and also its own parish was established. The village Wißgoldingen, now incorporated into Waldstetten, and the Rechberg residential areas Kratzerhöfle, Schurrenhof, Stollenhäusle and Stollenhof were finally dissolved by the Donzdorf parish (Geislingen parish) and reclassified into the Waldstetten parish in accordance with an announcement on February 13, 1975. Furthermore, the Protestant residents of the Schwäbisch Gmünder districts of Unterbettringen and Weiler in der Berge were detached from the parish of Waldstetten and assigned to the parish of Degenfeld, which was then renamed Degenfeld-Unterbetrringen in 1984.
Until 1970 the Schwäbisch Gmünder district of Oberbettringen also belonged to the parish of Waldstetten. However, through the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on November 19, 1970, it was detached from the Waldstetten parish and assigned to the Schwäbisch Gmünd parish at that time, with which it then came to today's Schwäbisch Gmünd Peace Church in 1971.
Weitmar parish
The Weitmars parish includes the Weitmars district of the city of Lorch. Weitmars has always belonged to Lorch in the church. In 1964 a separate church, the Christ Church, was built and an own parish was founded. It is looked after by the Lorch-Süd parish office to this day. The parish also runs a kindergarten.
literature
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 .