Kreuzkirche (Suhl)

Kreuzkirche in Suhl

inner space

The Evangelical Lutheran Kreuzkirche in Suhl in Thuringia was built between 1731 and 1739.

history

A rapidly growing population led to the formation of the new Kreuzkirche parish in the western Suhl district in 1704 and to the decision to build a new church in 1720. Between 1731 and 1739, next to the main church, Suhl's second parish church was built in the vicinity of the church “Zum Heiligen Kreuz”, which has existed since 1555 . She was from the royal courtMaster mason Johann Michael Schmidt and the carpenter Johann Sebastian Gerbig built. A forge was demolished for the construction of the church. The building was financed exclusively by the citizens of Suhl. The Kreuzkirche was consecrated on September 20, 1739. At that time it was located on the western outskirts between two city gates. For this reason, the church tower with the representative entrance portal on the east side was oriented towards the city center and the chancel opposite facing west was arranged.

There is a branch church in Neundorf .

layout

The Protestant hall is designed in baroque style. The striking three-storey church tower has a tail hood with a lantern and is crowned by a weather vane in the shape of a Polish eagle. The then sovereign was Elector Friedrich August I of Saxony and King of Poland . The three-part coat of arms above the entrance portal is a fantasy. It shows elements of the Saxon coat of arms with the diamond wreath and the Saxon swords, the Polish eagle and a hen, the heraldic animal of the Counts of Henneberg , above the Saxon crown.

The facade of the six-axis nave is divided into two-story arched windows on a high base and strong pilasters . There are stair spindles in the corners of the retracted choir .

Furnishing

The interior of the listed church is characterized by the three-storey gallery on three sides of the nave and the pulpit altar in the choir. The pulpit altar was created by Johann Heinrich Reinhardt in 1736. The pulpit in the center of the altar is decorated with small flames that indicate the Holy Spirit and a triangle with a wreath of twelve rays that indicate the divine Trinity and perfection. An ornate, symmetrically designed organ front with the Henneberg and Suhl coats of arms forms the upper end. The pulpit altar is framed by Corinthian columns and two female figures, who symbolize faith with a cross and a chalice and love with a burning heart and palm branch.

A flat ceiling with frame stucco and shell ornaments spans the nave. In the middle of the ceiling is the face of a large clock that indicates the transience of life.

The Oldenburg Eilert Köhler built 1738-40 the organ with about 2,200 pipes. It has two manuals , a pedal and 39 registers and was restored in 1999–2007 by Alexander Schuke Potsdam Orgelbau . The combination of north German and Thuringian organ building results in a special sound, making it the most important instrument from the first half of the 18th century in Thuringia south of the Rennsteig .

In the church tower there are three bronze bells that were cast by the Ulrich brothers in Apolda in 1763 .