Reformed Church in Wabern near Bern

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Reformed church Wabern with labyrinth in the rectory garden

The Reformed Church Wabern is the village church of the Wabern parish in the Reformed parish of Köniz in Wabern BE. It was built in the post-war years from 1946, when the growing population in the outskirts of the city of Bern needed its own churches.

Building history

Wabern has always belonged to the parish of Köniz . The people were invited to go to church in Köniz, which was consecrated to the apostles Peter and Paul . The name of the Kirchstrasse connecting the town still bears witness to this. Wabern did not have its own church, only one document mentions a "gmein cappely" in an undetectable location. As early as 1902, an amount of CHF 2,000 had been collected from a bazaar to amass a church building fund. In 1905 it was CHF 5,800, but a church was not built, the association was dissolved and the money was handed over to the community for administration. It was not until 1935 that a new church building association was founded on the initiative of Pastor W. Fuchs. In 1937, the parish of Köniz acquired the property on Poststrasse in Wabern with the capital, which had meanwhile grown to CHF 35,000. The project by the architect Ernst Balmer from Wabern, which won a competition, was recommended for implementation. The rapidly growing population made it necessary to build its own church and planning began in 1938. However, with a delay due to the war, construction did not begin until 1946. The inauguration of the church with its attached parish and rectory took place on the day of prayer in 1948. The church offered space for up to 750 people.

architecture

Entrance facade

The architect Ernst Balmer BSA, from Köniz (around 1890–1973) won the competition in 1938 and was able to start building the church and the adjoining buildings in 1946. With the entrance facade facing the street and the choir facing south-west, the church was oriented towards the adjacent cemetery. A hall of 20 × 14 × 9 meters was created with a recessed choir of almost the same height and 4 meters deep. By moving in the 4 meter deep gallery, the room was given an almost square shape.

Five tall windows in the north-west wall of the ship and a wider one on the south side in the choir light up the room. On the south wall of the nave there are another five loopholes-like windows in the upper area and three high, arched windows in the gable wall. On the outside, all facades were provided with a trowel lime plaster. A uniform architectural style was achieved thanks to the windows of the same style in all the associated buildings and the rest of the design.

The church center with hall, rectory and ancillary buildings appears as a complete system with terraces, open spaces and the park-like cemetery. The main vertical accent of the center is the free-standing tower. In addition, the cloister-like arcades, which were originally open everywhere, supported by pillars, characterize the exterior.

Renovation in 2004

Layout
Redesigned interior

After more than fifty years of use and change, a thorough renovation of the church interior was necessary. According to the new concept, the traditional arrangement with a high pulpit and spatially separated liturgy should be abandoned. During the redesign by the Bernese architecture firm Patrick Thurston in 2004, the benches that took up the entire church space were replaced by mobile, two-seater bench parts. They are usually positioned at an open angle to the new organ, sacrament table, and lectern. To separate the choir, there are sliding elements made of fir wood in front of the steps, which also serve as chair depots.

The new Lord's Supper table is only provided on special occasions and the lectern can also be moved depending on the space requirements. The new organ represents an important part of the new equipment. Following the old model and Protestant tradition, this redesign will involve the people in the center of the room at the same level as the preachers and the organist in the service. The choir with the mighty mural remains free for the choir and music performances. The pulpit remains unused, readings and sermons are given at the new lectern. If necessary, the space available from normally 100 seats can be expanded with the invisibly stored chairs for a further 210 people. The room concept allows versatile use as a concert space.

Furnishing

Mural

The resurrection picture in the choir measuring almost 9 × 9 meters, designed 1955–1962 by Walter Clénin , shows the sleeping guards at the foot of the broken grave with the three women and opposite the explanatory angel. The blessing Christ floats into the room in front. During the redesign in 2004, the picture was to be covered by a neutral wall with a simple cross, as it was several years before after the church was built. But as it was already intended in the original building plan, it now remains in a clean condition, dominating the room. A similar mural by Walter Clénin is also in the choir of the Markuskirche in Bern's Breitenrain.

Baptismal font

The font from Freiburg hard sandstone in the form of a bowl with reliefs was created by the Bernese sculptor Max Fueter . The story of the prophet Jonah is represented as a resurrection symbol. "For as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the lap of the earth for three days and three nights" (Mathäus 12:40). He stands on the specially rounded steps at the left choir screen.

pulpit

The pulpit has reliefs carved in wood with the symbols of the Evangelists by the sculptor Theo Wetzel. Wetzel lived with Walter Clénin in the Festi ob Ligerz , and he also created the figures in the Grand Council Chamber in Bern's town hall .

Stained glass

The nine glass paintings donated by other parishes and patrons by the Steffisburg glass painter Robert Schär were moved from the large church windows into the glazing of the side arcade. However, their badly burned black solder drawing is inextricably endangered. Robert Schär also created the large glass paintings in Bern's St. Mark's Church.

Organs

Gallery and large organ

The village church in Wabern has two independent organs . The disposition of the newer ones is particularly suitable for baroque organ literature and song accompaniment. Because of its larger size, the large organ is better suited for a broader musical repertoire (including romantic organ music).

Big organ

On the gallery is the large organ built by Kuhn AG in 1948 with 31 stops on two manuals and pedal . The movement has mechanical action , pneumatic filing and slide chests .

I Hauptwerk C – g 3
1. Bourdon 16 ′
2. Principal 8th'
3. Reed flute 8th'
4th Gemshorn 8th'
5. Octave 4 ′
6th Hollow flute 4 ′
7th Super octave 2 ′
8th. Mixture VI – VIII 2 ′
9. Corno 8th'
10. Clairon 4 ′
II positive C – g 3 (swellable)
11. Principal 8th'
12. Dumped 8th'
13. Saicional 8th'
14th Suavial 4 ′
15th Reed flute 4 ′
Fifth (preliminary print) 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
16. Sesquialter II 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
17th Fladeolet 2 ′
18th Largiot 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
19th Sharp V – VII 1'
20th Dulziana 8th'
21st Trompette harmonique 8th'
22nd shawm 4 ′
Pedals C – f 1
23. Principal bass 16 ′
24. Sub bass 16 ′
25th Principal 8th'
26th Capstan flute 8th'
27. Night horn 4 ′
28. Mixture V 4 ′
29 trombone 16 ′
30th prong 8th'
31. cornet 8th'

New organ

The new organ

As part of the church restoration in 2004, organ builder Thomas Wälti, Gümligen, with the assistance of architect Patrick Thurston, built a new organ that was adapted to the furniture. The high case made of solid spruce wood from the mountain region above Giessbach near Brienz BE is built according to the rules of the golden section . The pipes are not visibly arranged in it and the sound exits through openings colored in red. The game table is as taken in the sound holes deepened. Inside the organ, the three wind chests for the main work and the pedal are installed on the lower level. The wind chest for the swellable second manual is on the upper floor . Constant wind pressure is ensured with three bellows. Recycled boards from the old pews were used for the load-bearing parts. The new organ has 14 registers, two manuals and a pedal. The movement has a mechanical action and a mechanical registration .

I Hauptwerk C – g 3
1. Principal 8th'
2. Hollow flute 8th'
3. Octave 4 ′
4th Reed flute 4 ′
Octave 2 ′ (advance mixture)
5. Mixture IV 2 ′
6th Trumpet 8th'
II Positive (swellable) C – g 3
7th Dumped 8th'
8th. Principal 4 ′
9. Fifth 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
10. octave 2 ′
11. third 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
12. Zimbel II 2 ⁄ 3 ′
13. Dulcian 8th'
Tremulant
Pedals C – f 1
14th Sub bass 16 ′
Principal 8 ′ ( Transm. HW)
Trumpet 8 ′ (Transm. HW)

tower

The free-standing bell tower with a height of 23 meters is covered with sheet metal above a flat hipped roof and crowned with a weathercock. On a square base, the tower connects to the corner of the gallery. In the upper area, in three rows on all sides, there are five narrow sound windows closed with slats. During the renovation in 1988, the original exposed concrete was painted with white emulsion paint. The five bells cast at Rüetschi AG, Aarau on February 24, 1948, were ceremoniously raised by the school children on June 5, 1948.

The dials of the clock have Roman numerals between double circles. The watch was supplied by the Baer Sumiswald company.

Web links

Commons : Reformierte Kirche Wabern  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Seftigen Urbar 1530, No. 3, page 110. The description of the area shows that it could be a chapel or a small path chapel in Kleinwabern.
  2. ↑ world-architects Review: Architekturkritik ( Memento from April 24, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ^ Organ portrait on the website of the builder company, accessed on June 1, 2019.
  4. ^ The new organ on the Orgelbau Wälti website , accessed on April 24, 2016.

Coordinates: 46 ° 55 '42.4 "  N , 7 ° 26' 57.3"  E ; CH1903:  600809  /  197485