St. Sebald (Nuremberg)

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Front view of the Sebalduskirche, 2010
North facade of St. Sebald, 2006
St. Sebald, east choir of SO

The medieval church of St. Sebald in Nuremberg , also called Sebalduskirche (after the hermit Sebaldus , who probably lived in the Nuremberg area in the 8th century ), is the oldest parish church in Nuremberg and, along with the Frauenkirche and the Lorenzkirche, one of the most prominent church buildings in the city. It is located on the way to Nuremberg Castle to the north a little above the main market and just to the west in front of the town hall . Amazingly rich has the equipment get inside. Since the Reformation , the Sebalduskirche has been one of the two large Protestant city churches in Nuremberg, alongside the Lorenzkirche, which today both belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria .

Building history

The Sebalduskirche is the older of the two large parish churches in Nuremberg and the oldest (since 1525) Evangelical Lutheran parish church in the city. The fact that St. Sebald was always nobler and more important than St. Lorenz can no longer be seen in the cityscape since the station was built. But the direct vicinity of the hall choir of the church to the old town hall underlines its former importance as the “council church” of Nuremberg, in which St. Sebald, the city's patron saint, is buried.

The tomb is a rich work of art made by his sons according to plans by Peter Vischer between 1508 and 1519 in the form of a small architecture with rich figural decorations (including scenes from the life of St. Sebaldus). The bronze casting is considered an early example of the reception of forms of the Italian Renaissance north of the Alps.

From a previous building, which was probably dedicated to St. Peter was consecrated (12th century?), An obviously two-aisled crypt could be excavated. Instead of this predecessor, the Sebalduskirche was built between 1225/1230 and 1273 as a double-choir pillar basilica . In many tree motifs it follows the model of the Bamberg Cathedral (double choir, double tower facade with polygonal apse on the west choir, consecrated in 1274, etc.), so that despite the Gothic interior elevation, some Romanesque-looking structural elements were adopted.

View around 1700

As early as 1309, the two aisles were demolished again and widened to the current width in line with the front walls of the transepts. With this extension, the stonemasons created the world court portal on the south aisle . This tympanum shows scenes from the Last Judgment . This construction project was probably completed in the 1330s .

During the Parlerzeit from 1361 to 1372 the east choir above the burial place of the city saint Sebaldus was expanded into a hall choir typical of the time ; see. the hall construction of the Frauenkirche or the Wenceslas Chapel of St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague as roughly contemporary architecture . The rededication of the church from St. Petrus to St. Sebald also fell at the time of this last major construction project in the Middle Ages. Remains of the previous Romanesque church can be found on the central nave and the lower parts of the towers.

St. Sebald was hit in the air raids on Nuremberg (1940–1945), in particular the roof and the vaults were largely destroyed, the valuable furnishings were largely preserved through timely removal or walling. The valuable world court portal on the south aisle was also preserved. After the end of the Second World War , the reconstruction took place. The new church bells (strike tone sequence a 0 –cis 1 –e 1 –fis 1 ) were consecrated on the 1st  Advent in 1952 . The nave was used for church services until the east choir was restored, and on September 22, 1957, the church, which was supplemented by the reconstructed east choir, was inaugurated in its original form in the presence of Federal President Theodor Heuss .

  • Late Romanesque original building

  • High Gothic conversions

  • Acquisition of new organs

  • Romansh - today

  • Romanesque capitals

  • Romanesque triforium

  • Triforium capital

Furnishing

Sebaldus tomb
St. Peter's altar with altarpiece
Interior of the Sebalduskirche
Imperial window

In St. Sebald there is an extremely valuable inventory of pre-Reformation art in particular. These are almost exclusively foundations of Nuremberg council families, because the Sebalduskirche has been established as the "council church" of Nuremberg since the 14th century. In contrast to the Lorenz Church, until the late 15th century it was almost exclusively the Nuremberg councilors who were allowed to donate permanent items of equipment to St. Sebald. Occasionally, the entire council showed its unity and cohesion through foundations, for example in the form of the windows of the hall choir, which were donated by the mayors in 1379 (partly renewed around 1500). Until the end of the 15th century, the pictorial program of the works of art was always subject to the use of space by the liturgy.

Even on the outer facade there are some remarkable stone figures, such as the Schreyer Landauer epitaph by Adam Kraft , the monumental Schlüsselfelder Christophorus from the 15th century (original today in the Germanic National Museum) or the figures of the magnificently designed bridal portal on the north side from the 14th century

The most important piece of equipment for the pre-Reformation church is the tomb of the city patron Sebaldus . The bones of the saint had been kept in a silver shrine in Nuremberg since the 14th century, until a decision was made at the end of the 15th century to have a bronze case made to protect the shrine and highlight it artistically. The outer structure of the tomb was cast in bronze from 1508 to 1519 by Peter Vischer the Elder in collaboration with his sons Peter the Younger and Hermann. The design for this is also generally attributed to them.

Furthermore, various works by the carver Veit Stoss should be emphasized, such as his apostle Andreas and the figures of the Volckamer Memorial Foundation, in which he also demonstrated his skills as a stonemason on a relief. This is just one of many artistically valuable epitaphs from Nuremberg patrician families (e.g. the Tucherepitaph by Hans Süß) in the church.

Only recently has it been noticed again (rediscovery by Daniela Crescenzio 2011) the painting of the blessing Christ in the memorial plaque of the Nuremberg family Kreß in the east choir: The picture is almost a copy of Albrecht Dürer's Blessing Christ (probably from the years 1503/1505) is now in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. In addition, it is very similar to the Blessing Christ by the Venetian court painter Jacopo de 'Barbari from 1503. An art historical analysis is still pending.

On the north wall of the east choir hangs the so-called Tucher-Epitaph, which Hans Süß (also called Hans von Kulmbach ) in 1513 for the deceased 1503 Dr. Lorenz Tucher made. According to the Nuremberg artist biographer Johann Neudörffer , he had partly completed his apprenticeship in Nuremberg with the Venetian Jacopo de 'Barbari. On the middle panel of the epitaph, Mary is enthroned with the baby Jesus between St. Catherine and St. Barbara, surrounded by a spacious landscape. In the foreground, five Renaissance angels play music in the style of Italian painting. Their style is Venetian and the angels are very reminiscent of the Dürers in the painting Rosenzkranzfest , which was made in Venice.

Most of the original stained glass windows in the hall choir were made by the glass painter Veit Hirsvogel around 1500 based on designs by Dürer and Hans Süss' von Kulmbach .

In the middle of the north facade is the roofed portal called the “ Bridal Gate ”, at which (before the introduction of the Bridal Mass ) the church wedding, prescribed by the Tridentine Council , took place.

Organs

Organ from 1976

The verifiable history of the organs in St. Sebald goes back to the 15th century. Certain walling on a triforium on the south wall of the nave suggests that there was probably an organ in the style of a block as early as the late Romanesque period . Between 1440 and 1443, the Mainz organ builder Heinrich Traxdorf , who also built two small organs in the Frauenkirche, created a main organ for St. Sebald. The Gothic case of the Traxdorf organ, which hung in the east choir above the pointed arch of the south aisle, was considered the oldest preserved organ prospect in the world until its demise . In 1691 it was completely renovated by Georg Siegmund Leyser . In 1906 the Nuremberg organ builder Johannes Strebel supplied a two-manual organ with 28  registers . The prospectus and the organ were completely destroyed in the Second World War ; Only two small figures and the so-called pipe monkey could be recovered from the rubble and adorn today's modern organ front .

In 1947, the restored nave of the church received a used organ from the Steinmeyer company (Oettingen), which was built in 1904 as op. 844 for the St. Jacob's Church in Oettingen. The instrument originally had 26 registers on two manuals and a pedal . After the reconstruction of the east choir, it was expanded in 1957 and 1962 by the building company at the new location on the south wall of the choir, up to 57 registers, three manuals and pedal, so that it was also used for concerts, mainly during the International Organ Weeks in Nuremberg could be. This interim organ was handed over to the St. Petri Church in Soest in 1975 .

Today's main organ was built in 1975–1976 at the same location as the previous organ by the organ builder Willi Peter (Cologne) based on a design by Werner Jacob , Otto Mayer (Ansbach) and Ernst Karl Rößler . The main organ has 72 registers on three manuals and a pedal. The slider chest instrument has mechanical action, the coupling is electrical. The three-manual play cabinet is located in the lower case of the main organ.

I main work C – a 3
01. Praestant 16 ′
02. Drone 16 ′
03. Principal 08th'
04th Metal flute 08th'
05. Viol 08th'
06th Flute harmonique 08th'
07th Octave 04 ′
08th. Pointed flute 04 ′
09. Schwiegel 02 2 ⁄ 3  ′
10. Octave 02 ′
11. Pipe whistle 0 02 ′
12. Cornet V (from f 0 ) 08th'
13. Backseat III – IV 04 ′
14th Mixture V 02 ′
15th Trumpet 16 ′
16. Trumpet 08th'
17th Trumpet 04 ′
Bells
II threshold positive C-a 3
18th Pipe pommer 16 ′
19th Roughly covered 08th'
20th Quintadena 08th'
21st Willow pipe 08th'
22nd Principal 04 ′
23. Reed flute 04 ′
24. Fifth 02 2 ⁄ 3  ′
25th Octave 02 ′
26th Dulcian 0 02 ′
27. Gemsterz 01 3 ⁄ 5  ′
28. Fifth 01 1 ⁄ 3  ′
29 Sifflet 01'
30th Septnone II 01 1 ⁄ 7  ′
31. Mixture IV-V 01 1 ⁄ 3  ′
32. Cimbel III 0 1 ⁄ 2 ′
33. Krummhorn 16 ′
34. Voix humaine 08th'
35. shawm 08th'
Tremulant
III Schwell-Oberwerk C – a 3
36. Night horn 16 ′
37. Principal 08th'
38. Cane-covered 08th'
39. Flaut d'amore 08th'
40. Flaut lament (from c 0 )0 08th'
41. Octave 04 ′
42. Coupling flute 04 ′
43. Third flute 03 1 ⁄ 5  ′
44. Flute douce 02 ′
45. Octave 02 ′
46. Sesquialtera II 02 2 ⁄ 3  ′
47. Fifth 01 1 ⁄ 3  ′
48. Back set III 04 ′
49. Overtone II 0 8 ⁄ 11 ′
50. Mixture V 01 1 ⁄ 3  ′
51. bassoon 16 ′
52. Trumpet harmonique 08th'
53. oboe 08th'
54. Clairon 04 ′
Tremulant
xylophone
Pedals C – f 1
55. Principal 32 ′
56. Principal 16 ′
57. Sub bass 16 ′
58. Covered bass 16 ′
59. Salizetbass 16 ′
60. Octavbass 08th'
61. Bass flute 08th'
62. Octave 04 ′
63. Gemshorn 04 ′
64. Reed flute 02 ′
65. Peasant flute 01'
66. Rauschzink IV 05 1 ⁄ 3  ′
67. Mixture IV 02 2 ⁄ 3  ′
68. Bombard 32 ′
69. trombone 16 ′
70. Trumpet 0 08th'
71. Bear whistle 08th'
72. Trumpet 04 ′
Tremulant

The mobile mechanical choir organ has 11 stops on a manual and pedal. Both instruments are also equipped with electromagnetic action , so that the entire organ system can be played from a mobile four-manual console .

(IV) Choir organ C – a 3
01. Covered 08th'
02. Engl. Viol 08th'
03. Principal 04 ′
04th Tubular crossbeam 0 04 ′
05. Octave 02 ′
06th Fifth 02 2 ⁄ 3  ′
07th Mixture III-IV 01'
08th. musette 08th'
Tremulant
Pedal (choir organ) C – f 1
09. Pommer 16 ′
10. Bass flute 08th'
11. Choral Bass II 04 ′

Bells

The four church bells are distributed across both towers, with the large bell hanging alone in the south tower. The bell is matched to that of the Lorenz Church. Bells 4, 2 and 1 replace the previous bells that were destroyed in 1945, as indicated by their inscriptions. Bell 3 reminds in its inscription of the reconstruction of the Sebalduskirche.

No. Surname Casting year Foundry, casting location Diameter
(mm) 		Weight
(kg) 		Nominal
(16th note) 		Belfry
1 Storm bell 1952 Bachert bell foundry , Karlsruhe 1900 3856 a 0 ± 0 South Tower, below
2 Choir bell 1495 1835 cis 1 +1 North Tower, above
3 - 1255 1090 e 1 +1
4th Clock bell 1115 765 f sharp 1 +1

Rectory

Vicarage with choir

The Sebald church opposite belongs to the Sebaldus church . It was mainly created around 1361/1379. The Sebald clergy once lived here: preachers, deacons, "Schaffer" (administrators) and servants. Around the clock in the “Wöchnerstube”, there was always someone ready to give the dying the final unction every week. The “capital room” served as a dining and meeting room. The east-facing apse of the house chapel is the world-famous “Chörlein”, today a copy from 1898/1902, the Gothic original can be viewed in the Germanic National Museum . The room arrangements have been preserved to this day. The parsonage will be completely renovated from 2015 to 2019 and will then once again serve the community as a parish and community center.

Already in pogroms in the Middle Ages were Jewish cemeteries desecrated . During the renovation work in September 2019, for example, a 700-year-old Jewish tombstone of a Mrs. Gutlin was uncovered in a wall about three meters high in the entrance area of ​​the Sebald parsonage. He is to receive a new function there in consultation with the Israelite religious community.

Historical illustrations

  • Church from the southeast, photograph (between 1860 and 1890)

  • Front facade of the Sebalduskirche, photograph (between 1860 and 1890)

  • Sebaldusgrab, photography (between 1860 and 1890)

  • Bridal gate, photography (1890s)

  • Sebalder Chörlein am Pfarrhof, postcard (around 1900)

  • View of the Sebalduskirche from Burgstrasse (1910)

  • Sebalduskirche in April 1945

Others

In 1999 St. Sebald was awarded the Cross of Nails from Coventry .

St. Sebald Kragstein with leaf mask (further leaf masks have five vault and rib keystones)

See also

literature

  • Georg Stolz: Sebalduskirche . In: Michael Diefenbacher , Rudolf Endres (Hrsg.): Stadtlexikon Nürnberg . 2nd, improved edition. W. Tümmels Verlag, Nuremberg 2000, ISBN 3-921590-69-8 ( online ).
  • Gerhardt Weilandt: The Sebalduskirche in Nuremberg. Image and Society in the Age of Gothic and Renaissance . Imhof, Petersberg 2007, ISBN 978-3-86568-125-6 , table of contents online . Review in: Kunstchronik 61, 2008, pp. 381–391.
  • Birgit Friedel, Ulrich Großmann : St. Sebald. Construction observations on the towers, the west choir and the crypt. In: Birgit Friedel, Claudia Frieser (eds.): Nuremberg, archeology and cultural history. "... not a single city, but a whole world ...". 1050–2000, 950 years of Nuremberg. Publishing house Dr. Faustus, Büchenbach 1999, ISBN 3-933474-03-5 , pp. 136-147. (not viewed)
  • Andreas Marx: The east choir of the Sebalduskirche. In: Mitteilungen des Verein für Geschichte der Stadt Nürnberg 71, 1984, ISSN  0083-5579 , p. 23 ff., ( Online ), (not viewed)
  • Helmut Baier (Hrsg.): 600 years Ostchor St. Sebald - Nuremberg. 1379-1979. Schmidt, Neustadt ad Aisch 1979, ISBN 3-87707-021-3 .
  • Friedrich Wilhelm Hoffmann: The Sebalduskirche in Nuremberg. Their building history and their art monuments. Revised and supplemented by Th [eodor] Hampe . Gerlach & Wiedling, Vienna 1912, (not viewed)
  • Daniela Crescenzio: Italian walks in Nuremberg - Volume I: Nuremberg, Venice of the North , 1st edition 2011, Verlag IT-INERARIO, Unterhaching, ISBN 978-3-9813046-3-3 .
  • Herbert Bauer, Herbert Liedel: Cheeky putti, seductive women, wild men. Discoveries at Sebaldus tomb . 1st edition. context medien und verlag, Nuremberg 2010, ISBN 978-3-939645-28-3 .

Church leaders

  • Thomas Bachmann, Markus Hörsch, Rainer Elpel: Sebalduskirche Nuremberg. Carl, Nuremberg 2004, ISBN 3-418-00100-9 .
  • Hans-Martin Barth: The Sebalduskirche in Nuremberg. Langewiesche publishing house, Königstein i. Ts. 2007, ISBN 978-3-7845-1503-8 .

Web links

Commons : St. Sebald  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Carola Nathan: World Court Portal of St. Sebald Nuremberg . In: German Foundation for Monument Protection (Hrsg.): Monuments . Magazine for monument culture in Germany. No. 5 . Monuments publications, 2017, ISSN  0941-7125 , p. 7 .
  2. ↑ a b c Interior of the church after Daniela Crescenzio: Italian Walks in Nuremberg - Volume I: Nuremberg, Venice of the North. Verlag IT-INERARIO, Unterhaching 2011, ISBN 978-3-9813046-3-3 .
  3. ↑ New organ building on periodika.digitale-sammlungen.de, p. 238, accessed on December 30, 2017
  4. ↑ Information on the main organ
  5. ↑ Information on the choir organ
  6. ↑ More information on the organs of St. Sebald , accessed on December 6, 2016.
  7. ^ Nuremberg - The old Jewish cemeteries up to the 19th century , Alemannia Judaica. Retrieved December 17, 2019

Coordinates: 49 ° 27 ′ 18.5 "  N , 11 ° 4 ′ 33.3"  E