St. Elisabeth (Kilchberg ZH)

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St. Elisabeth Church, steeple
View from the north
View from the northwest

The St. Elisabeth Church is the Roman Catholic parish church of Kilchberg ZH in the canton of Zurich .

history

prehistory

Simultaneously with the first mention of the place name Kilchberg, a church on the mountain was also mentioned in 1248. Property and rights were owned by the von Eschenbach- Schnabelburg family. In 1406 these came to Zurich . The medieval church in Kilchberg was dedicated to St. Peter . In 1248 the church set was with the Lords of Hottingen, in 1357 with the Lords of Lakes , in 1407 including the branches through purchase to the Kappel Monastery , after the Reformation in 1527 to the city of Zurich. During the Old Zurich War , the wooden church was burned down by the Confederates and later replaced by a massive stone building. After the Reformation in Zurich from 1523, the Kilchberg church was used for Reformed worship services. Celebrating Catholic services was forbidden until the 19th century. For the first time since the Reformation, the Edict of Tolerance of 1807 allowed the celebration of Catholic church services in the canton of Zurich, albeit limited locally to the city of Zurich. The freedom of settlement and religious freedom of the Helvetic Republic and, from 1848, the Swiss federal state made it possible for Catholics from Central and Eastern Switzerland , but also from neighboring countries, to settle in the Zurich region and find work in the factories that were newly built during industrialization .

Development and construction history

The first mission station in the region was the parish of St. Marien Langnau-Gattikon , founded in 1864 , to which the Catholics of Kilchberg initially belonged. When the parish of the Holy Trinity Adliswil was established in 1895 , the inhabitants of Kilchberg were also assigned to it. The way to Wollishofen was closer , which is why the Catholics of Kilchberg belonged to the newly founded parish of St. Franziskus Zurich-Wollishofen from January 1, 1930 . On April 5, 1930, the Kilchbergers founded the Kilchberg Catholic Kultusverein with the aim of building their own church and parish. In the Schützenmatt , a building site for a later church was acquired. On April 10, 1932, the Kilchberg Catholics celebrated the first Catholic service since the Reformation in Kilchberg. For this purpose, the Kilchberg municipality was able to rent the upper classroom in the gym extension on Dorfstrasse (former office ). Mass celebrations took place there every Sunday. In 1934 the construction of the St. Elisabeth Chapel began. On Easter Monday , April 22, 1935, the completed chapel was designated by Bishop of Chur , Laurenz Matthias Vincenz , and Kilchberg was appointed parish rectorate. On April 8, 1962, the St. Elisabeth Church Foundation was founded. The public law recognition of the Catholic Church in the canton of Zurich from 1963 onwards enabled the parishes to collect taxes and thus put the parishes on a solid financial footing. The last service took place in the St. Elisabeth chapel on August 15, after which the construction of today's church of St. Elisabeth including the rectory, secretariat and parish center took place according to plans by the architect André M. Studer , who also designed the church of St. Andreas Uster and the Bildungshaus Bad Schönbrunn was built by the Jesuits (today Lassalle-Haus ). The foundation stone was laid on September 7, 1965, and the church consecration on October 22, 1967. Between 2003 and 2014 the church, including the parish center and rectory, was extensively renovated: in 2003 the supporting ribs and the roof, in 2006 the interior of the church, in 2008 the forecourt and the surrounding area, in 2009 the church tower, in 2010 the parish center, and in 2011 the interior of the rectory the offices and in 2013 the exterior of the rectory.

The parish of St. Elisabeth with its 1,976 members (as of 2017) is one of the smaller Catholic parishes in the canton of Zurich.

Building description

Church tower and exterior

Bell of the previous church

The St. Elisabeth church is located on Schützenmattstrasse west of the town center. André M. Studer's design of the church is based on a square , diagonally organized floor plan . The rectory is attached to the church . The slender church tower , composed of elements, occupies the north-western corner of the property as a solitaire. The shape of the church tower is based on the crown of the church patron saint, St. Elisabeth. It is true that the renovation of the roof and facades with sheet copper cladding has largely made the concrete disappear and the building has lost its original effect. But even in today's renovated state, the St. Elisabeth Church reflects the dynamic design language of the 1960s.

The bells were cast on February 24, 1966 in the bell foundry Emil Eschmann Rickenbach TG near Wil SG in the presence of Kilchberg Catholics and a delegation of the Reformed from Kilchberg. The bells were consecrated on September 17, 1967 by Vicar General Alfred Teobaldi . It is a trinity , an Elizabeth , a Mary , a Peter and an angel bell . After the consecration, the bells were raised in the tower by the school children.

number volume dedication inscription
1 c 1 Trinity The grace of Christ, the goodness of God, the communion of the Spirit be with you all (2 Cor 13:13)
2 it 1 St. Elisabeth If I didn't have love, I would be a ringing bell (1 Cor 13: 1)
3 g 1 Mother of God My soul praises the Lord (Lk 1:46)
4th b 1 St. Peter My duty to keep you awake (2 Petr 1:13)
5 c 2 Angel With the heavenly hosts we sing the high song of your glory (preface)

Interior and artistic equipment

inside view

The curved, tent-like roof rises above the low outer walls. Its two parts lean in the middle of the roof structure against the concrete girders skeletonized like a spinal column, through which light falls into the church. This zenithal light that falls into the room via the main axis was originally supplemented by light that poured into the room from above along the walls on both sides of the choir - an effect that fell victim to the renovation of the outer shell. While the exterior was shaped by the concrete - especially on the two roof shells - the interior is joined by the light limestone floor and the wooden ceiling, which create a festive atmosphere with the elegant architecture.

As in the church of St. Andreas Uster, the chancel and the entire interior design of the church of St. Elisabeth Kilchberg were designed as a total work of art by André M. Studer. The architect writes about the design of the church: "This is how the Kilchberg church received its form as an expression of the communion of all that is, expanding into the limitless, opening up to the one." Studer chose the wooden elements on the roof and walls because the wood gives the worshiper "warmth and security", the natural stone of the church floor with its inclusions as a "symbol of life", but also as a "symbol of the transience of all life". Iron and concrete are supposed to give the believers a "feeling of security and security". The glass, on the other hand, opens the room and thus also the worshiper to the ever-changing light, "a sign of constant change and transformation, of the moving, the temporal."

The sanctuary takes up the stipulations of the liturgy constitution of the Second Vatican Council : In the middle there is a popular altar , which together with the tabernacle , the ambo , the sediae and the baptismal font form a design unit. The monumental crucifix behind the altar was created by Silvio Mattioli .

Church window

The eight windows that were used on the north side of the church are by the Ticino artist and Capuchin Father Fra Roberto Pasotti (* 1933). They show topics from the life of the church patron Elisabeth:

  • Flaming love, princely marriage with Ludwig IV : colors and shapes speak. The red flames glow and give warmth; they are the symbol of love. The purpose of St. Elisabeth's life was care, affection and love in marriage, family and in the wider community. The colored window symbolizes the princely marriage.
  • Flowers of joy - Elisabeth's national princess and mother : The blossoming flower symbolizes joy and growing life. Elisabeth was the mother of three children. She donated joie de vivre; as sovereign she is at the zenith of her life. The spearheads in the earth part of the picture already indicate the pain to come.
  • Thorns of Suffering - Her Husband's Death : Her husband dies during a crusade . The young Elisabeth - averse to striving for power - loses worldly importance. A thorny life is ahead of her. However, it seems permeated with a mysterious broadcast.
  • Secret feeding of the poor - breads appear as roses : Elisabeth turns completely to charitable works and distributes supplies, even the seeds, to the hungry. The legend tells that when you examined your bags and baskets there were not bread but roses.
  • The grace of God permeates the mind and body : Elizabeth breaks away from material possessions and is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit . She recognizes her straightforward but unusual way of life for Caritas and walks it courageously and with strong willpower.
  • Life in Franciscan Poverty - Cross and Light of Christ : Francis of Assisi also worked in her time . She was deeply impressed by the Franciscan spirit. The Franciscan cross, the habit and the ropes symbolize the spiritual bond with the Franciscan innovators.
  • The Eucharist as a source of life and strength in the service of one's neighbor : The Eucharist gives her grace, conviction, spiritual strength, and deep insight into God's plan. In the reception of the changed bread and wine it grows and works in the daily hard work of active charity .
  • Admission into eternal life - coronation in the kingdom of God : Saint Elizabeth in the light of the risen one . She has earned the real and everlasting coronation. Leave us a shining vision: "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers, you did to me."

Organs

Mathis organ from 1970

Mathis organ

The inauguration of the organ took place on October 25, 1970 . This mechanical instrument, built by Mathis in Näfels, has 29 registers , which are distributed over three manuals and a pedal . The main work enthroned in the middle is framed on both sides by the pedal towers. In the middle, below the main work, the protruding breastwork is installed. The swell is behind the main housing. Each of the four works (Schwellwerk, Hauptwerk, Brustwerk and Pedal) has its specific, tonally self-contained character. The intonation of the flue stops took Eugen Hauser before, that of the reeds was carried out by the former company owner Manfred Mathis. In 2014 the organ was overhauled.

Disposition organ:

I Hauptwerk C – g 3
Principal 8th'
Tube bare 8th'
octave 4 ′
Pointed flute 4 ′
octave 2 ′
Sesquialter 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′ and 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
mixture 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
II Swell C – g 3
Hollow flute 8th'
Viol 8th'
Principal 4 ′
Transverse flute 4 ′
Nazard 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
Forest flute 2 ′
third 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
Sharp 1'
Dulcian 8th'
shawm 8th'
Tremulant
III Breastwork C – g 3
Dumped 8th'
Reed flute 4 ′
Principal 2 ′
Fifth 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
Cymbel 2 ⁄ 3 ′
Wooden shelf 8th'
Tremulant
Pedal C – f 1
Sub bass 16 ′
Praestant flute 8th'
octave 4 ′
mixture 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
bassoon 16 ′
Trumpet 8th'
  • Pair : III / II, I / II, I / P, II / P, III / P

Klop chest organ

Klop chest organ from 2007

The company Klop from Holland built this chest organ in 2007 for the Church of St. Elisabeth. The organ has 5 divided registers and an attached pedal. The instrument was delivered by the organ builder Späth in Rapperswil and is maintained by them. The chest organ is used during the weekday services on the side altar of the church, but also at concerts for continuo playing or at the traditional "Stockenfest" service on the farm in Kilchberg.

Disposition :

Manual C – f 3
Dumped 8th'
Principal (treble) 4 ′
Reed flute 4 ′
Nasard 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
octave 2 ′
  • split loops at c 1 / c sharp 1
  • transposable 415, 440, 465 Hz

literature

  • Church Foundation St. Elisabeth (Ed.): Festschrift for the dedication of the Church of St. Elisabeth in Kilchberg ZH on October 22, 1967. Kilchberg 1967.
  • Episcopal Ordinariate Chur (ed.): Schematism of the Diocese of Chur. Chur 1980.
  • Theo Obrist (Ed.): 50 Years Parish St. Elisabeth Kilchberg 1935-–. Kilchberg 1985.
  • Roman Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth Kilchberg (Ed.): 75 years of the Roman Catholic parish of St. Elisabeth Kilchberg. Kilchberg 2010.
  • Robert Walpen: Catholic Kilchberg on the way through time. Zurich 2017.

Web links

Commons : Elisabeth Kilchberg ZH  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Episcopal Ordinariate Chur (ed.): Schematism of the Diocese of Chur. P. 218.
  2. ↑ Episcopal Ordinariate Chur (ed.): Schematism of the Diocese of Chur. P. 218.
  3. ^ Website of the parish, section historical. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ Episcopal Ordinariate Chur (ed.): Schematism of the Diocese of Chur. Pp. 218-219.
  5. ^ Archives of the parish of St. Elisabeth.
  6. ↑ Catholic Church in the Canton of Zurich (Ed.): Annual Report 2017, p. 83.
  7. ↑ Article in the NZZ of August 2, 2016, p. 7.
  8. ^ Parish website, Architecture section. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  9. ↑ Church Foundation St. Elisabeth (ed.): Festschrift for the dedication of the Church of St. Elisabeth in Kilchberg ZH on October 22, 1967. pp. 19-25.
  10. ^ Parish website, Architecture section. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  11. ↑ André M. Studer, in: Church Foundation St. Elisabeth (Ed.): Festschrift for the dedication of the Church of St. Elisabeth in Kilchberg ZH on October 22, 1967. P. 28.
  12. ↑ Quotations from André M. Studer, in: Church Foundation St. Elisabeth (Hrsg.): Festschrift for the dedication of the Church of St. Elisabeth in Kilchberg ZH on October 22, 1967. P. 28.
  13. ^ André M. Studer, in: Church Foundation St. Elisabeth (ed.): Festschrift for the dedication of the Church of St. Elisabeth in Kilchberg ZH on October 22, 1967. P. 33.
  14. ↑ Church Foundation St. Elisabeth (ed.): Festschrift for the dedication of the Church of St. Elisabeth in Kilchberg ZH on October 22, 1967. P. 57.
  15. ^ Website of the parish. Section The Church Windows. ( Memento of December 8, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  16. ^ Parish website, organs section. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  17. ^ Organ directory Switzerland / Liechtenstein. Section Catholic Church St. Elisabethen Kilchberg ZH. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  18. ^ Parish website, organs section. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  19. ^ Organ directory Switzerland / Liechtenstein. Section Catholic Church Chest Organ Kilchberg ZH. Retrieved October 4, 2014.

Coordinates: 47 ° 19  '13.1 " N , 8 ° 32' 36.1"  E ; CH1903:  six hundred and eighty-three thousand five hundred and eighteen  /  241636