Fortified church in Kleinlangheim

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Fortified church in Kleinlangheim

The fortified church of Kleinlangheim is a fortified church from the 12th century in the old town center of the municipality of Kleinlangheim in the Lower Franconian district of Kitzingen .

history

Predecessor churches

Preserved arch of the passage to the old apse is visible in the basement of the tower

Traces of the first churches in Kleinlangheim before the middle of the 7th century were found when the heating was installed in an excavation in 1972–1973. In the nave of St. George and Mary , the experts found Romanesque remains as well as an older stone base and evidence of previous wooden buildings.In addition, there was an indication in the parishes that there was a chapel in the tower. This was confirmed during grave work under the floor by the discovery of an altar foundation in the middle of the rectangular apse under the tower. The burned-up sandstones and post pits told of a destructive fire in the probably wooden predecessor church. A stepping stone made of yellowish border dolomite and parts of a sigma-shaped altar plate could also be put together from striking fragments . From the discovered consecration cross, the original size of the table can be estimated at 0.78 meters long and 0.40 meters wide. Next to the consecration cross there was also a closed, rectangular recess. This could have contained relics . Consecrated remains from the previous half-timbered churches that had been destroyed by fire were left in the altar area of ​​the subsequent building. Around the 10th century, the half-timbered buildings of the first churches were replaced by a stone church and supplemented with a choir tower . This is still preserved to this day.

Attachment

"opus spicatum"
Gadenhäuschen and cellar necks built in front

Fortified churches have been found in Franconia since Carolingian times. They served as a refuge to protect the farmers. The rural population suffered particularly from the power struggles of the feudal lords. They were also threatened by roaming soldiers and rabble. The church was usually built of stone and covered with bricks. This offered protection from fire and was most suitable for defense. It was also a holy place that offered asylum. Enemies also respected the consecrated area of ​​the church building and the churchyard.

The church was originally surrounded by the cemetery. In the 12th century the church and cemetery were fortified with strong, high walls made of hard border dolomite. It was built in a herringbone or ears of corn (" opus spicatum ").

Finally, the walling was expanded to create a Fliehburg . There were battlements applied as well as inwardly to the cemetery wall Gaden grown. These consisted of storage cellars and small houses. In them the village families could keep important belongings and store supplies for emergencies. To the outside, they consisted of the solid defensive wall without windows but with loopholes. The respective owners had to take care of the preservation. Due to a lack of space, the residents now also built the ossuary .

As a further safeguard, poles were erected before the artificial moat was excavated. His traces can be discovered in the area around the town hall. The only access was protected by a drawbridge and a gatehouse . The latter was probably built in 1487 and used as the first town hall. The year mentioned is located above the arch. Even today the visitor can enter the churchyard through this entrance and understand the strength of the wall ring. The fortified church in Kleinlangheim was mentioned for the first time in 1416 when it served as a base for the burgrave of Nuremberg during the First Margrave War. Bishop Johann was able to plunder "a lot of transport, wine and grain, so the peasants had complained". Further destruction took place in 1554 and during the Thirty Years' War. In 1648 the sources describe the destruction as follows: "The stakes in front of and around the churchyard are burned, the churchyard gates, churches and church houses doors, as well as the roofs smashed ...".

Dismantling

After the Margrave Wars and the Thirty Years War, the fortified churches lost their importance for defense in the event of war. Much of what was destroyed fell into disrepair. Only a few Gaden experienced numerous conversions and larger clearings for agricultural purposes by their owners. From 1700 the people of Kleinlangheim leveled the moat and created space for buildings or gardens.

Today, fortified churches have a symbolic character for the individual as well as for the community beyond their historical function of defensibility and protection. They represent a symbol for God. The gate is open to the place as a sign that the church turns to the people. It invites you to quiet and strengthen or to events of the local community.

For more than 20 years, the community of Kleinlangheim and the Förderverein Kirchenburg Kleinlangheim eV have been trying to renovate and preserve the remains of the fortified church. This gives them a suitable setting for events.

description

investment

The fortified church in Kleinlangheim consists of the church and its churchyard . Except for the north side, this is partially separated from the outside by a high ring wall and a gate tower. Within the walls, next to the church with a nave and tower, there are numerous alleys with overbuilt cellar necks.

  • Sandstone relief on the church tower

  • Stone in the gatehouse to the fortified church

  • View through the archway into the Kleinlangheimer Kirchenburg

  • Evangelical parish church of St. George and Mary

  • Gadenhäuschen

  • Gethsemane on the outside wall of the church

  • Capture of Jesus

church

The free-standing church is oriented in east-west direction and consists of the nave and the tower. It is located on the east side. The extension of the nave to the south in 1594 and again in 1685 can be clearly seen.

Inside, the church received its current appearance between 1722 and 1739. On the sides on which extensions took place, on the south and west sides of the nave, two-story galleries were added.

The altar comes from Prichsenstadt . He is in the focus of the nave. The painting with the Easter message was created by Friedrich Carl Hösch in 1849. In the predella below, in the immediate vicinity of the altar table, the Last Supper is depicted. As if from a vine, green vines lead up from the base on two winding pillars and frame the resurrection .

The organ from 1669 was placed on a separate gallery above the altar in 1731. Michael Voit from Schweinfurt built parts worth preserving into the new musical instrument in 1802.

The body of the pulpit is decorated with the figures of Christ as ruler of the world and the four evangelists at his side. They were financed by donations in 1725. The angel with the trumpet on the sound cover symbolizes the circumferential inscription: "Shout confidently, do not hold on to yourself! Raise your voice like a trumpet and announce to my people their apostasy. Isa. 58".

The visitor will find the font on the right. It probably dates from the 15th century and the brass basin from 1729.

An unknown artist inserted a picture story into the cassette fields of the first gallery. It shows the most important biblical contents in a cross section. This Bible for the poor for people who could not read dates from around 1650.

Unfortunately, only two wall paintings from around 1602, which were discovered during the last renovation, could be restored.

  • Pulpit in St. George and Mary

  • Altar of the Protestant parish church St. Georg and Maria

  • Bible for the poor on the gallery

tower

The church tower was built as a choir tower. The rectangular apse on the lower floor was used as a sanctuary until the 13th century, as the excavation of the altar foundations proved. Clear Romanesque traces can also be seen. A sandstone tablet attests that it received three more floors in 1594.

Today the tower consists of six floors with an onion dome, lantern and weathercock. The sacristy is housed in it and it carries the bells. The 85 centimeter high eleven o'clock bell was cast in 1424 by "magister petrus" in Nuremberg. It was followed in 1491 by the 1.36 meter high twelve o'clock bell. Both are richly decorated. During the Second World War, the small bell that was added in the 16th century was melted down. In 1958, the ringing could be completed again with the eternity bell.

See also

literature

  • Evang. – Luth. Deanery Kitzingen (ed.): Gesegnetes Land . Paths through the Evangelical Dean's Office Kitzingen am Main. Kitzingen 2012.
  • Dr. Hans Bauer (ed.): Art and culture guide through the district of Kitzingen . 2nd Edition. Color printing Brühl, Marktbreit 1993.

Web links

Commons : Kirchenburg Kleinlangheim  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Christian Pescheck: Archaeological Report Kleinlangheim . In: Mainfränkische Studien . tape 53 . HartDruck GmbH, Volkach 1993.
  2. ^ Karl Schneider: A "Sigma" -shaped altar stone from the first church in Kleinlangheim . In: Frankenbund (Ed.): Frankenland . Special print from issue 1. Würzburg 1983.
  3. ^ Religious Education Center Heilsbronn (ed.): Churches - expressions of faith . Exploration of a fortified church / fortified church. Freimund - Druckerei, Neuendettelsau 1995, p. 4 .
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Reinhard Hüßner MA, Wiesenbronn: The Kleinlangheimer Kirchenburg. Markt Kleinlangheim 1st Mayor Roland Lewandowski, accessed on May 4, 2016 .
  5. ^ Religious Education Center Heilsbronn (ed.): Churches - expressions of faith . Exploration of a fortified church / fortified church. Freimund - Druckerei, Neuendettelsau 1995, p. 11 .
  6. ↑ a b c "Across the Steigerwald Foreland" - Tour 4 . 3. Kleinlangheim. In: Evang. – Luth. Deanery Kitzingen (ed.): Gesegnetes Land . Paths through the Evangelical Dean's Office Kitzingen am Main. Kitzingen 2012.
  7. ↑ a b c d e f g h churches. Markt Kleinlangheim 1st Mayor Roland Lewandowski, accessed on February 28, 2013 .

Coordinates: 49 ° 46 ′ 15.1 ″  N , 10 ° 17 ′ 9 ″  E