Christ Church (Rülzheim)
 Christ Church Rülzheim |
|
| Basic data | |
| Denomination | evangelical |
| place | Rülzheim, Germany |
| Patronage | Jesus Christ |
| Building history | |
| construction time | 1966-1968 |
| Building description | |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| 49 ° 9 '9.4 " N , 8 ° 17' 24.3" E | |
The Christ Church is a Protestant church building in Rülzheim in the Rhineland-Palatinate district of Germersheim . It is located on Hoppelgasse, next to the Rülzheimer cemetery.
History of the Protestant parish
In contrast to many surrounding communities, the Reformation did not find its way into Rülzheim . Protestants did not settle in Rülzheim until 1832. In the following 100 years only a few Protestant families moved here.
It was not until the Second World War and its aftermath that numerous Protestants found a new home in Rülzheim and in the places that are now part of the association. In 1943 the first families who came from the Baltic States and the Banat and had already been relocated several times were sent to Rülzheim. The next major resettlement transport did not take place until 1950. The newcomers came mainly from the former Reich German areas, but also from the German-speaking regions in Russia, Romania and Yugoslavia. The early 1950s brought more refugees to Rülzheim, especially people who no longer saw a place to stay in Central Germany due to the expropriation policy in the former GDR.
The Protestant Christians in Rülzheim, Leimersheim , Hördt , Neupotz and Kuhardt were initially looked after from Bellheim . In order to be able to take part in the service, the new citizens mostly had to walk the long way to Bellheim. In 1951 the number of Protestants in Rülzheim was so large that a Protestant church service could be held there. At first there were services only at irregular intervals, but soon they were held fortnightly; there were also services in Hördt and Leimersheim.
Due to the influx of refugees, the pastor's work grew so much that in 1963 a vicar was appointed to his side. His main task was to look after the Protestants in Rülzheim and the associated places. In 1965 the Protestant congregation had grown to 350 members and Rülzheim was declared an independent congregation. The places Leimersheim, Kuhardt and Neupotz also belonged to it; Hördt joined them later. The services in Rülzheim were initially held in different school halls. However, the Protestant Christians still had to go to Bellheim for the festive days and for confirmation.
In the late 1950s, the desire for a church of their own grew louder. In 1963 a church building association was founded. The Protestant Church agreed to support the construction project - and planning could begin. Construction work began in December 1966. The building project also found the support of the political community of Rülzheim, through financial help and provision of the timber. Many Rülzheim Catholics supported the building project with donations. After years of vigorous collecting, after countless hours of personal work on the construction, the Protestant parish of Rülzheim was able to put its church with the adjoining parish rooms into service on Whitsun 1968.
The parish apartment was completed in 1971. Vicar Roth was the first Protestant clergyman to move to Rülzheim. With the parish deacon Karl-Heinz Landwehr, the parish of Rülzheim received its own administrator for the first time in May 1973. On March 1, 1983, the “Evangelical Vicariate Rülzheim” became the “Evangelical Parish Rülzheim”.
The congregation has had to do without the planned bell tower on the north side of the church due to cost reasons. Since 1981, the parish has also maintained a church hall in the Leimersheim elementary school, in which services take place every fortnight.
building
She owes the artistic design of the church to Mrs. Stempel-Lebert, Landau. On the north side, a brick-built cross grows out of the wall in relief and is still a visible sign of the purpose of this house. The ornament of the simple interior of the church is the Corpus Christi above the altar. Christ crucified and blessing at the same time points to the Lord of the Church. The lead-glazed window front on the east side of the church is kept in very light white and gray tones, crossed by a bright red band.
In 1972 a small organ could be purchased for the Christ Church, which replaced a decrepit harmonium.
Past pastors
| Pastors in Bellheim who looked after the Protestants in Rülzheim | |
|---|---|
| Until 1948 | Hans Rothaas |
| 1948 | Theodor Kuntz |
| 1949 | Karl Mildenberger |
| 1949-1977 | Otto Göppel |
| Vicars in Bellheim, who were primarily responsible for the administration of the Rülzheim parish | |
|---|---|
| 1963-1964 | Armin wildenberger |
| 1964-1967 | Wolfgang Wisker |
| 1967-1970 | Hartmut Mittag |
| 1970-1973 | Albrecht Roth |
| Pastor of the Protestant parish in Rülzheim | |
|---|---|
| 1973-1982 | Karl-Heinz Landwehr |
| 1983-1997 | Ursula Blank |
| 1991-1997 | Ursula Wahlig (position split) |
| 1997 | Matthias Helms (substitute) |
| 1997-2009 | Walter Riegel |
| 2010-2017 | Christel Ehrlich |
