St. Afra in the field
St. Afra im Felde is a Catholic pilgrimage church in the southwest of Friedberg in Bavaria . It is consecrated to Saint Afra of Augsburg , who is said to have been martyred around 304 AD on the spot where the church stands . The church belongs to the parish of St. Jakob in Friedberg. The pilgrimage to Saint Afra takes place every year on August 7th. The church can be visited on request. Immediately next to the church is the only group of buildings in the St. Afra im Felde brewery inn .
history
The first church in the Lechfelderdorf settlement is mentioned in a document in 1169. In the 15th century the church was renovated in the late Gothic style after severe storm damage. The pilgrimage to St. Afra is mentioned for the first time in 1509. During the Thirty Years War the church was looted by the Swedes and later completely devastated.
The existing baroque church was built at the beginning of the 18th century and consecrated in 1712. The church was already being used for military purposes at the end of the 18th century, and then officially as an ammunition store after secularization . The two towers were demolished and the windows bricked up. Up to 20,000 quintals of powder were stored in the building. Because of the danger to the surrounding area, the powder was removed towards the end of the 19th century and the building was to be sold. It was auctioned for 13,000 marks, but those involved in the pilgrimage did not agree. A donation finally made 15,000 marks available to purchase the building so that it could be returned to its original purpose as a pilgrimage church. In 1877 work began to restore the church. On July 1, 1878, the church and the altar were consecrated again.
Furnishing
Inside, the church makes a simple baroque impression. The former high altar was removed and replaced by an Afra sculpture, in front of which a simple marble altar table stands. The organ dates from 1961 and has 500 pipes.
Web links
Coordinates: 48 ° 20 ′ 24 ″ N , 10 ° 58 ′ 2 ″ E