St. Martin Church (Remels)
The Evangelical Lutheran St. Martin Church ( ) is in Remels , the capital of the community of Uplengen in East Frisia. During the Middle Ages, the fortified church , which was built at the beginning of the 13th century, was surrounded by a wall. The Easter gate was preserved from this fortification .
history
The church owes its construction to the fact that Remels was probably the meeting place of the councilors (judges, the "sixteen") of the Lengen region during the time of the Frisian freedom . Its residents built the church in the geographical center of the autonomous state community, which is identical to the large parish of the same name, to which the ten Geestdörfer Remels, Jübberde, Groß- und Kleinsander, Groß- and Kleinoldendorf, Bühren, Selverde, Poghausen and Spols belonged. The name-giving patron is St. Martin of Tours , whom the community still has in its seal today.
It is possible that the church had a predecessor made of wood, which has not yet been verified. A sarcophagus lid made of Sollingen sandstone , which is dated to the 11th century, and a sandstone sarcophagus , which were found in the immediate vicinity of the church, point to an early Christian life in Remels. Both also testify to the fact that there must have been a wealthy class in Lengenerland who could afford such elaborate burials.
Construction of the church began in the early 13th century. Due to its location on the edge of East Frisia on the border with the Oldenburger Land , the population was repeatedly exposed to looting by the counts from abroad. The church was therefore laid out as a fortified church. In addition to the church, the fortress was equipped with a defense tower, free-standing bell tower, churchyard, surrounding wall with moat and gate towers.
The oldest part of the building is the nave of the original apse hall church . Like many other churches in East Friesland from this time it was built with granite blocks. These have survived almost to the roof in Remels. Like most churches from this period, the nave probably had a portal on each of its long sides and four small arched windows in the upper third. The hall had a flat ceiling, the apse a dome. The west side was finished off smoothly.
Around 1300 the western part of the nave and the apse were demolished, and three new bays were drawn in in the east . This created a rectangular space in the Romano-Gothic style. For the first time, brick and tuff were used as building materials. The new east gable had three windows, the side aisle walls each had four windows, which were designed with ogival arches in accordance with the Gothic construction. The brick tower in the historicizing style was built in 1897/98. It had two medieval predecessors that were designed as defensive towers. A new west tower mentioned in 1507 collapsed again shortly after it was erected due to an inadequate foundation. The belfry was originally in the southwest corner of the churchyard and had become dilapidated, which is why the 53.50 meter high new church tower was built.
The sending court was also held at the church, as evidenced by the chain, collar and pedestal of a pillory on the north wall of the nave.
Building description
The outer
The construction phases clearly divide the church into three areas. From its exterior you can see that it was built in three phases. The oldest part is the western area of the nave, which consists of granite ashlars from the original apseus church almost up to the roof. A strong construction seam clearly separates this construction section on the north and south long walls from the Gothic construction section in the east, which is joined by the 53.50 meter high new church tower from 1897/98.
The inner
The nave is closed at the top by four bays with domical vaults . They testify to the Gothic ideal of a heavenly tent and symbolize the heavenly Jerusalem . The beginnings of the old apse can still be seen on the east wall of the western yoke. After the Reformation, only a frieze of acanthus leaves in the choir bay remained from the original painting. The tendril patterns on the east wall and in the choir vault were created a little later.
Furnishing
The altarpiece was created around 1667 by the carver and painter Tönnies Mahler from Leer. On its wings it shows the announcement of the birth by the Archangel Gabriel, the Christmas event in Bethlehem, the circumcision of Jesus in the temple and the adoration of the three wise men. In the center is a depiction of the Last Supper. The back of the wings are painted with pictures of the suffering and death of the Lord. The predella is decorated with the four evangelists with their attributes . You can see Matthew with the winged man, Mark with the lion, Luke with the bull and John with the eagle.
The baroque pulpit was built at the end of the 17th century. The evangelists are depicted again on the four pulpit panels.
The baptismal font comes from the pre-Reformation period. Like so many baptismal fonts in East Friesland in the 13th century, it was made from Bentheim sandstone . Wandering stonemasons made it shortly before or after 1270 on behalf of the parish. The cuppa rests on four carrier figures, which can possibly be interpreted as the oppressed old Adam . The cuppa itself is adorned with a wide frieze of acanthus vines. It is still unclear since when the font has been colored.
organ
The organ was built in 1782 by the Wittmund organ builder Hinrich Just Müller . It is the only church organ in the region that has a Rückpositiv . This is almost 50 years older than the main organ and was probably built as an independent positive by Johann Friedrich Constabel (1733). Müller built the plant in its new building, the main work - brochure is divided into seven parts. In 1898, the instrument and its gallery were relocated from the east to the west side of the church and, in the process, somewhat rebuilt in line with the zeitgeist. During the restoration of the organ by Rudolf Janke in 1978/79, the original condition was restored. The instrument has 15 registers on two manuals and attached pedal .
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- Coupling and playing aids : I / II, II / P, check valve Rückpositiv
Remarks:
- C = Register by Johann Friedrich Constabel (1733)
- M = register by Hinrich Just Müller (1782)
- J = Register by Rudolf Janke (1978/79)
Bells
The bell tower houses a triple bell. The oldest bell was cast in the 13th century and consecrated to Mary. After the Second World War, the Rincker bell foundry completed the ringing with two new bells. Remels has one of the deepest bells in East Friesland. The bell motif results in a minor chord.
|
No. |
Surname |
Casting year |
Foundry, casting location |
Mass (kg) |
Chime |
| 1 | Christ bell | 1953 | Gebr. Rincker , Sinn | 2400 | h 0 |
| 2 | Marienbell | 13th century | unknown | 1676 | d 1 |
| 3 | Peace bell | 1953 | Gebr. Rincker, Sinn | 1050 | f sharp 1 |
See also
literature
- Hans-Bernd Rödiger, Menno Smid : Frisian churches in Emden, Leer, Borkum, Mormerland, Uplengen, Overledingen and Reiderland , volume 3. Verlag CL Mettcker & Sons, Jever 1980, p. 56 f.
- Hermann Haiduck: The architecture of the medieval churches in the East Frisian coastal area . 2nd Edition. Ostfriesische Landschaftliche Verlags- und Vertriebs-GmbH, Aurich 2009, ISBN 978-3-940601-05-6 , p. 37, 112, 124 .
Web links
- Homepage of the parish
- Ortschronisten der Ostfriesischen Landschaft : Remels (PDF file; 42 kB)
- Genealogy forum: The ev.-luth. St. Martin's Church
- Remels.de: St. Martins Church ( Memento from July 8, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
- Michael Till Heinze: Remels
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f St. Martins parish Uplengen Remels: The St. Martinskirche in Remels , viewed on September 1, 2010.
- ↑ Reinhard Ruge (NOMINE eV): Remels, St. Martin - Orgel by Hinrich Just Müller (1782) , seen April 23, 2011.
Coordinates: 53 ° 18 ′ 20.6 ″ N , 7 ° 45 ′ 6.4 ″ E