St. Peter Church (Gesmold)
The Church of St. Petrus zu den Ketten is a classical church building in the central architectural style in the center of Gesmold , a district of Melle in Lower Saxony . It is the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of St. Peter ad vincula Gesmold in the Diocese of Osnabrück .
history
Around the year 1000 Franconians built a farm on the old Heerstraße along the Wiehengebirge , which was used to supervise and protect the paths from Osnabrück via Gesmold and Melle to Herford . The settlement was named "Gesmelle", loosely translated as "Hof vor Melle". The oldest document dates from 1160. In it, the Lords of Gesmel received the right to build a castle from Osnabrück bishop Philipp von Katzenelnbogen to ward off danger. The earliest lord of the manor known by name is Bernhard von Gesmel. He moved to the Holy Land as a knight in 1215.
The first church in Gesmold probably already existed in 1160. In 1434 the knights Sweder and Hermann von dem Bussche built a new church and made donations to it. Another church building on Thingplatz in the center of the village dates from 1510 , a single-nave church dedicated to St. Peter to the chains . The cemetery was built around them, which to this day largely surrounds the church. The Gesmold church served as a burial place for noble families until 1608.
The patron of the Gesmold Church was the respective Drost or Baron at Gesmold Castle :
from approx. 1100 to 1400 the lords von Gesmel
from 1400 to 1540 the lords von dem Bussche
from 1540 to 1608 the Droste von Amelunxen
from 1608 to 1664 cardinal Franz Wilhelm Reichsgraf von Wartenberg
since 1664 the barons von Hammerstein
Around 1600 the rural settlement on the Gesmolder Freie Hagen was complete. At the time of the Reformation , the von Amelunxen family and thus also the Gesmold community held on to the Catholic denomination. When the churches were distributed after the Peace of Westphalia , the Gesmold Church was assigned to the Catholics and the place remained almost entirely Catholic for about 300 years.
In 1835 the Gesmold pastor Mathias Schürmann commissioned the architect Emanuel Bruno Quaet-Faslem from Dendermonde in Belgium to build a new church. It was to be designed on the model of the dome rotunda of the Roman pantheon . Quaet-Faslem's classicist concept transformed the round shape into a twelve-sided church. The foundation stone was laid on September 15, 1835. The new church building was built over the old church, which was removed after completion. The old church tower should be preserved, but collapsed on May 7, 1836. The consecration of the new church took place on the 1st Sunday of Advent of the same year . Quaet-Faslem constructed the tower as a square substructure with two octagonal upper floors. It was completed in 1838. The dome initially supported twelve oak trunks. In 1847, however, these were attacked by the wooden sponge. They were replaced by round pillars made of stone, which are tapered towards the top and stand on square stone plinths with leaf ornamentation towards the bottom.
Furnishing
Altars, pictures, figure program
While the church was sparingly equipped in the first few years, it gradually received an artistic inventory. In 1840 the baptismal font was created , a rounded sandstone, which is surrounded by angels and ends in a copper bowl. In 1859, sculptor Bernhard Allard from Münster made twelve apostles about three meters high and in 1862 a statue of the Virgin Mary, which found its place in the altar of Mary on the north wall until the alteration of the chancel in 1970/71.
In 1881 the preparations for the design of the dome began. The Osnabrück church painter Klausing designed the painting on two levels in the spirit of historicism . The lower ring shows the Holy Family and three times twelve saints . In the top row, twelve angels can be seen (three archangels and nine angels as representatives of the nine angel choirs).
The pulpit and main altar were supplied by the sculptor Conrad Seeling from Gesmold in 1880 . A hexagonal pulpit rests on six differently designed columns. Four wood-carved images are embedded in its parapet: the merciful Father, Mary and Martha, the healing of the blind and the sending of the apostles. Two side altars, also made by Seeling in 1883 and 1885, were located in the window niches of the choir: the Marien Altar on the right and the Mother Anna Altar on the left.
14 large-format cross - way pictures were created in 1897 by the Dutch painter Paul Windhausen from Roermond , painted on 1.50 × 1.75 m large copper plates. The Osnabrück glass painter Hans Lueg designed ten stained-glass , stained-glass church windows around 1900. They were donated by individual community members. In 1907 the Osnabrück sculptor Memken created the richly decorated triumphal cross. He also designed the Warrior Memorial Chapel in 1920 and the Pietà in 1923 .
The tower clock was supplied by the clockmaker Korfhage from Buer near Melle in 1904. It was renewed in 1947 and provided with an electrically controlled bell. In 1904 the community also purchased a crib that had been made in Ortisei in Val Gardena (Tyrol) by Ferdinand Stuflesser . He carved 17 figures with a size of 60 centimeters, plus 25 animal figures. The price for the work was 1,000 Reichsmarks. The painter Amft created two frescoes in the tower entrance in the late 1940s. They show the release of the apostle Peter from prison and the crucifixion of St. Peter.
As a result of the liturgical renewal after the Second Vatican Council , the sanctuary was redesigned in 1970/71. In accordance with the Council's stipulation that an altar should symbolize the community of believers, the two side altars, the Mother Anne altar and the Mary altar, were removed. The main altar made by Rudolf Krüger was moved to the center of the chancel and thus closer to the community. The Mother Anna Altar is now in the memorial chapel of the cemetery to the west of the church.
In 1986 the artist Franz Brune redesigned the east wall behind the celebration altar with a large wall painting that extends from the dome to the floor. He included the triumphal cross with halo from 1907 in his design and color scheme . A beam of light, expanding the glory of the cross, descends on the altar. The contrast between light and dark, the two sides of human life, surrounds the cross. The apse emphasizes the spiritual center of the church, altar and cross. The 14 square meter lead-glass dome was redesigned by the glass artist Wolfgang Huss from Steinfurt at the end of the 20th century.
organ
A two-manual swallow's nest organ in the German-Romantic style with 24 registers on a cone store, accessible via the west entrance of the church, was probably built around 1880 by the Rudolf Haupt company from Ostercappeln . As a special feature, it had a remote control with swell flaps set into the dome . The bellows were housed in the tower for reasons of space. At the bottom of the organ is the gold-plated inscription: “TE DEUM LAUDAMUS” (We praise you God). The disposition was:
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It was in 1982 whilst retaining an old housing by a mechanical slider chests -Orgel the organ building workshops Franz Breil replaced from Dorsten. It was the first instrument that was created under the direction of Ludger Breil, the son of Franz Breil. The new organ has 19 registers (1296 pipes), divided into two manuals and a pedal. The action mechanism is mechanical and the registers are controlled electromagnetically. Your disposition is:
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- Secondary register : tremulant 1st manual and 2nd manual
- Coupling : I / II, I / P, II / P
- 3 free combinations
- Tuning : Height a 1 = 440 Hz at 18 ° C
Peal
The oldest of the three church bells , the Petrus bell, comes from the previous church from 1564. It bears the inscription: Fusa sum AD 1564 Hermano from Amelunxen Domino in Gesmel Existente praefecto in Grönenberg Johann Alves me fecit. “I was poured in the year of the Lord in 1564 when Hermann von Amelunxen was Lord in Gesmold and Erbdrost von Grönenberg . Johann Alves made me ”.
Two more bells were melted down during World War I and replaced by the Heinrich Humpert bell foundry in Brilon in 1927 . Both in turn fell the Second World War victims . They could be replaced by a new casting in 1949 by the Brilon company Junker (formerly Humpert). The death knell bears the inscription: In hard times I was poured. The Second World War is over. Much blood and tears have flowed. O God, send us peace and harmony! The inscription on the Peter bell reads: St. Peter, you were once imprisoned until an angel freed you from the yoke, so the power of heaven helped the church today too, and the chain, lock and bolt jumped .
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No. |
Surname |
Casting year |
Diameter (mm) |
Mass (kg) |
Percussive ( HT - 1 / 16 ) |
Artist |
| 1 | Death knell | 1949 | c 1 | Humpert / Junker | ||
| 2 | Peter Bell | 1949 | it 1 | Humpert / Junker | ||
| 3 | Marienbell | 1564 | f 1 |
Number symbolism of the church
The most common number used in St. Peter's Church is twelve . Twelve corners run through its outer wall. In them are the twelve figures of the apostles, the "twelve pillars of the church" on which it was founded. Twelve angels and three times twelve saints are enthroned in the dome. The divine number three , which symbolizes the Trinity , and the number four , which represents the world, "four seasons" and "four cardinal points" are also realized . God (3) connects with the world (4). The meeting place is the church (3 × 4 = 12).
Smoldered church seal
The vast majority of church seals show the respective church patron. The Gesmolder seal deviates from this practice. On the front it shows a single-nave church with a steeple. A sun can be seen at the upper edge, pouring its rays over the church and representing a symbol of Christ, the sun of salvation. The church building shown is said to go back to the first church, the tower with the main entrance facing east and the choir facing west. This construction contradicts the common custom of east facing the choir. The border of the seal is formed by a tape with the words Sigillum Ecclesia in Gesmold (Seal of the Church in Gesmold).
Priest in Gesmold
The first mention of a pastor from Gesmold comes from the end of the 14th century. In the 15th century vicars were appointed to support the pastor in pastoral care in Grönegau . In 1485 Hermann von dem Bussche and his wife Anna founded the first vicariate. The deed of foundation has been received. From 1588 the vicars and chaplains are recorded by name in the parish files .
- Johann von Lippspringe, pastor around 1393
- Conrad Busch, pastor from 1593 to 1631
- Martin Grauert, pastor from 1644
- Conrad Grotthaus, pastor until 1651
- Leopold Dunwaldt, pastor from 1651 to 1668
- Sebastian Klamer, pastor from 1668 to 1674
- Johannes Hecheling, pastor from 1674 to 1683
- Johannes Herningsdorff, pastor from 1683 to 1716
- Heinrich Ernst Rothe, pastor from 1716 to 1717
- Johannes Baltharsar Bolte, pastor from 1717 to 1721
- Johannes Josef Sixtus Glatzer, pastor from 1721 to 1765
- Johannes Hermann Meyer, pastor from 1765 to 1789
- Johannes Conrad Speckmann, pastor from 1789 to 1828
- Prof. Johannes Mathias Schürmann, pastor from 1828 to 1866, builder of the new St. Petrus Church
- Johann Heinrich Ferdinand Hüdephol († 1903 in Gesmold), pastor from 1866 to 1903
- Karl Klemann, pastor from 1903 to 1904
- Bernhard Olthaus (* 1862; † 1952), from 1904 to 1949 pastor, clergyman, papal secret chamberlain and dean
- Theodor Steinbild († 1951 in Gesmold), pastor from 1950 to 1951
- Heinrich Walke († 1959 in Gesmold), pastor from 1951 to 1959
- Wilhelm Stangier († 1978), pastor from 1959 to 1964
- Matthias Herkenhoff († 1982), pastor from 1964 to 1981
- Andreas Loheide (* 1939), pastor from 1982 to 2010, led the fundamental restoration of the church and the conversion of the former rectory to the parish center
- Jörg Ellinger, pastor from 2010 to 2018
Legend of the Gesmold Church
Low German tradition from the late Middle Ages: Up Sloss Gesmem wuohnde vo long Tied 'n Här, de dogte midden un to both Ennen nich. Gooe Wäörde gaff he no Minsken; de em in ´ne Möte kamm, Kreig watt with de Rüenpietske. He keik sao swatt aos'n thunderstorms achter'n biärge and no one can see laughing.
Eenmol was a gray fire in Gesmem. De Wiend dräggdede sick un three sparks over aolle Hüeser around ´n Typlatz, and auk de aule Kiärke stön in great danger. The Füerflünke flues ´den üäwert´t Dack, un lütke Flimmkes lickeden an ´n Taoren. No one thought of loosening; They had enough of their own plauge.
Dao gruesde dat van Slosse here above Bruges. With you swatten Hinkske kamm de Slosshär un jög üäwer de Müeren üm'n Kiärkhaof. He's in the car; dat watte Haor wäggede em üm de Blessen; the glorious eyes glided. Un he ropde: “Let everything burn in three devil names! Just guard the temple here! ”Dao was dat Füer up Kiärke un Taoren daude, aos if you put a light on. De Lüde would nu aower, wao ´t de Slosshär met to dohn wait, un se lopen em u´n Wäg.
Translation: A long time ago there lived a gentleman at Gesmold Castle who was not good for much. He never said good words to anyone; whoever got in his way got something with the dog whip . His eyes were as black as a thunderstorm behind a mountain and nobody saw him laugh.
Once there was a big fire in Gesmold. The wind turned and drove the sparks over all the houses around the Thingplatz , and the old church was also in great danger. The sparks of fire flew over the roof and small flames were already licking the gates. Nobody thought of extinguishing them, they had all had enough of their own plague.
Then it thundered from the castle over the bridge. The lord of the castle came with his four black stallions and hunted over the walls around the churchyard. He was standing in the car, his black hair waving around his forehead and his eyes sparkling. And he shouted: “Let everything burn in three devil names! Just guard the temple here! ”Then the fire on the church and gates was extinguished, as if one had blown a light. But now the people knew what the lord of the castle was dealing with and they avoided him.
Sons and daughters of the parish
- Johann Matthias Seling (* 1792; † 1860), teacher at the Carolinum grammar school (Osnabrück) and priest at St. Johann (Osnabrück) , preacher of temperance
- Ludwig von Hammerstein (* 1832; † 1905), Jesuit priest and spiritual writer
- Franz Wesseler (* 1874; † 1945), pastor in Vrees
- Aoys Ostendarp (* 1903; † 1971), city dean in Hamburg
- Heinrich Stühlmeyer (* 1907, † 1978), from 1930 to 1978 employee of the St. Petrus Church and silent hero of the resistance
- Franz Diekmann (* 1912; † 1987), pastor in Nordhorn
- Josef Niederwestberg (* 1913; † 1986), prelate and vicar general in Schwerin
- Günter Kellersmann (* 1928; † 2011), dean in Freren
- Franz Stühlmeyer (* 1936), church musician at the St. Matthew Church in Melle
- Gertrud Placke (* 1937), religious sister in Trier
- Maria Placke (*; †) religious sister of the Thuiner Franciscan Sisters
literature
- District of Melle (ed.): The Grönegau in the past and present . Melle 1968.
- Franz Nieweg, Klaus Rahe, Maria Winkelmann: Gesmold yesterday and today. In pictures-reports-poems . Heimatverein Gesmold, 1986.
- Andreas Loheide: The St. Petrus Church Gesmold . Gesmold 1993.
- Andreas Loheide: Guide to parish pastoral work in St. Petrus Gesmold . Gesmold 1993.
- Irmgard and Bernard Meyer: St. Petrus ad vincula . Gesmold 1998.
- Andreas Loheide: History and stories of the parish of St. Petrus ad vincula Gesmold. Exquisite and experienced . Krützkamp, Glandorf 2010, ISBN 978-3-9813481-1-8 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Fritz-Gerd Mittelstädt , Gesmold St. Petrus. Typescript November 27, 2014.
- ^ Friedrich Müller: Knight seats and noble courts in Grönegau . Grönenberger Heimatheft 11, Melle 1967.
- ↑ Klaus Rahe, Maria Winkelmann, Franz Nieweg: Gesmold yesterday and today . Heimatverein Gesmold 1986.
- ^ Andreas Loheide: The St. Petrus Church Gesmold . Gesmold 1993.
- ↑ Ludger Stühlmeyer : The organ of the St. Petrus Church Gesmold . In: Uwe Pape , Orgelatlas , Berlin 1980, ISBN 3-921140-22-6 .
- ↑ In: Sagen des Grönegaus . Grönenberger Heimatheft 1, Melle 1957.
- ↑ Ludger Stühlmeyer: The power of quiet tones or: A silent hero from Gesmold . In: Dat Gessemske Blättken. With reports, stories and poems about Gesmold's past and present events . Heimatverein Gesmold 2010.
Coordinates: 52 ° 12 ′ 38.2 " N , 8 ° 16 ′ 21.8" E