Konviktskirche (Ehingen)
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The Konviktskirche (von Konvikt ) (also Herz-Jesu-Kirche ) is one of three Roman Catholic churches in the core of Ehingen (Danube) . It is also one of the oldest Sacred Heart Churches and has been directly subordinate to the Rottenburg-Stuttgart diocese since 1934 .
location
The Konviktskirche is located at the northern end of the old town of Ehingen. Their architecture was due to their affiliation with the college (now the primary school in the old seminary) in the northeast and is reason that the Konviktskirche not faces east , but is oriented to the north. A part of the former city wall runs adjacent to the church and college building, behind it lies the Groggental (with Groggensee and Schmiech ) and the city garden.
history
18th century
In 1686, the Benedictine monastery of Zwiefalten and the city of Ehingen agreed to establish a grammar school in Ehingen and contractually stipulated that the monastery would provide three professors and the city would provide the premises. From 1698 to 1709 a new, large college building was built according to designs by the Vorarlberg master builder Franz Beer . On May 23, 1712, the abbot of Zwiefalten Monastery, Wolfgang Schmidt, laid the foundation stone of the associated college church, also designed by Beer. In 1719, during the term of office of Schmidt's successor Beda Summerberger, the baroque building was completed and consecrated to the title of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by the Constance Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General Konrad Ferdinand Geist . This made the Ehinger Kollegiumskirche one of the first Herz-Jesu churches in Germany and worldwide.
Fifty years later, on August 6, 1769, lightning struck the church tower and a fire broke out. Not only did the tower burn down halfway - the roof with its four gables also fell victim to the flames. For the next 116 years the church was only protected by a temporary roof.
19th century
Like many other church institutions, the college church also fell victim to secularization in 1802 . The building lost most of the very rich furnishings, including all the statues of saints , and was henceforth used as a “fruit hall”, so it was used to store food. It was only 30 years later that King Wilhelm I of Württemberg complied with the grammar school's request to use the church for grammar school services. On May 1, 1841, after a makeshift restoration in the years 1838 to 1840, the church building could be handed over to its purpose as "Konviktskirche". Structural defects emerged towards the end of the 19th century. Parts of the ceiling relief fell down several times, sparking a discussion about renovation. This was completed in 1885. 116 years after the temporary roof was erected, the church now had a real roof again, although considerable mistakes were made during the erection of the roof, which ensured that the dome roof was about 30 cm apart by the 21st century. In addition to the renewal of the domed roof, the Konviktskirche also received a few objects from its original inventory back over time.
20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century, among other things, the high altar in the northern part of the church and numerous paintings were put up. This continued the interest in equipping the church as it used to be. In 1934 the church became the property of the diocese and has been directly subordinate to the diocese ever since. As in all other churches in Germany, the bells of the Konviktskirche were also removed during the Second World War in 1942.
In 1960 the decision was finally made to carry out a more fundamental renovation, which - these were basic objectives - should strengthen the central character of the church. The sanctuary under the crossing was enlarged, the four side arms were equipped with rows of banks, so that a tour of the core of the sacred building - the age that stands directly below the heart of Jesus - was required. In addition, they wanted to better accentuate the ceiling reliefs; thus these and the ceiling paintings were restored, the pulpit and the organ gallery removed.
The church was intentionally sober and the large interior of the church became a huge sounding body. The windows were also renewed, new lead glass windows were installed. The organ gallery, which was originally located above the entrance in the south, was demolished and replaced by a glass porch. This form of the vestibule made of glass walls still exists today and thus gives the visitor the opportunity to view the Konviktskirche from the portal outside of the service times.
In addition to the restoration of the ceiling paintings, the walls were also re-calcified; the church interior therefore shines in white and also emphasizes the more modern, sober character.
Furthermore, a new organ was installed on the north-eastern tower wall (from the company Späth from Ennetach ) and a new altar. The floor was renewed and the chancel (especially the steps to the altar) was generously furnished with marble. After around two years of renovation work, the Konviktskirche was reopened on July 8th with an altar consecration.
21st century
From 2011 the Konviktskirche was closed due to structural defects. The detached dome and the rest of the roof were sometimes the main reasons for a necessary restoration. Around a fifth of the wood used in the roof structure was replaced in four years. The architect Gerhard Scheid and the restorer Franz Schick were commissioned by the Rottenburg-Stuttgart diocese. This also bore the costs of approx. 2.7 million euros. In the course of the restoration, in addition to the installation of numerous lights that are intended to illuminate the dome and the ceilings, paintings from other churches were also exchanged. The Konviktskirche was opened on June 8, 2015 with a festive service with an altar consecration.
architecture
The floor plan of the Konviktskirche in Ehingen has the shape of a Greek cross , probably influenced by the Salzburg collegiate church . The strong central character of the church is decisive for this form of architecture. The four equally long side arms meet in the center, which represents the heart of Jesus in the Sacred Heart churches. The architect Franz Beer, who presumably designed this sacred building, chose a domed roof for this center. (Below is the altar.) This very flat dome is surrounded by four gables, the adjacent roofs of the side arms. In general, the ceiling of the church interior was designed purely like a barrel; the vaults of the individual aisles combine in the center to form the flat dome mentioned above. In the northeast, where the college building connects to the church, is the church tower.
Furnishing
Paintings and ceiling paintings
The back wall of the former high altar was once adorned with a painting by Melchior Seidel, Der Lanzenstich , which was painted on canvas. The painting "Tod Mariae" by Johann Georg Bergmüller , painted in 1718, replaced the high altar picture. As part of the restoration work in the 21st century, the paintings of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary and the Depiction of the Lord were brought into the church and the Raising of Lazarus from the church. There are also works by the artist Melchior Paulus. In the centrally located dome an open dome is illustrated. The heart of Jesus was painted in the middle. Four gates are shown, under each of which there is an angel holding an instrument of Christ's passion. Max Eugen Koerber writes about this: “In the large picture above the former high altar, the side opening of Christ is shown with the unbelieving Thomas. [Exactly opposite, i.e. in the southern arm of the cross, there is a representation of the Last Supper.] [...] In the western (left) transverse wing is the glorification of the Virgin Mary [...] in the eastern (right) [that of] Saint Joseph [s] shown. "
altar
Originally there were seven altars in the Konviktskirche. After secularization and renovations there is only one left, a centrally located one in the church. The altar dates from 1962 and was made of marble. It is located in the center and under the "Core Jesu" (Heart of Jesus). The large sanctuary around it is only a little lower. Five crosses are engraved on it to represent the five wounds of Jesus. At the altar consecration on June 28, 2015 he received his relics , body parts of Saints Prosperus and Clarus .
literature
- Max Eugen Koerber: The renewal of the Konviktskirche in Ehingen . In: Newsletter of the preservation of monuments in Baden-Württemberg 1967/1, pp. 2–5 ( digitized version ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Historical overview on the website of the St. Josef College. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ↑ Information about the Konviktskirche on the website of the pastoral care unit Ehingen-Stadt. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
- ^ Museumsgesellschaft Ehingen eV: Memories of Alt-Ehingen. P. 88.
- ^ Max Eugen Koerber: The renewal of the Konviktskirche in Ehingen . In: Newsletter of the preservation of monuments in Baden-Württemberg 1967/1, pp. 2–5, here p. 4.
- ↑ Christina Kirsch: Altar consecration of the Konviktskirche Ehingen . In: Südwest Presse (Ehingen), June 29, 2015. Accessed December 15, 2015.
- ^ Andreas Hacker: Konviktskirche in a new light . In: Südwest Presse (Ehingen), December 27, 2014. Accessed December 29, 2015.
- ^ Max Eugen Koerber: The renewal of the Konviktskirche in Ehingen . In: Newsletter of the preservation of monuments in Baden-Württemberg 1967/1, pp. 2–5, here p. 5.
Coordinates: 48 ° 17 '5.4 " N , 9 ° 43' 39.7" E