St. Karl (Lucerne)

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St. Karl Church
View from the south

The St. Karl Church, designed by Fritz Metzger , is a Roman Catholic parish church in the city of Lucerne . It is one of the most important buildings of Catholic church architecture of the 20th century in Switzerland. It is the first concrete church in Central Switzerland and is considered the first work of modern church architecture in Lucerne.

history

Karl Borromeo by Karl Bick

Naming and history

Karl Borromeo (1538–1584), as Archbishop of Milan in the 16th century, campaigned for the resolutions of the Council of Trent (1545–1563) to be implemented. When Karl Borromeo was appointed cardinal , the Catholic localities of the Confederation asked that Karl Borromeo be protector, i.e. H. became the advocate for the affairs of the Confederation at the Roman Curia . On his visitation trip through Switzerland in 1570, Karl Borromeo was also in Lucerne. This is how contacts arose with families in Lucerne. Two sons from the Cloos patrician family studied at the Collegium Helveticum in Milan , which was founded by Karl Borromeo . This family built a chapel next to their country house around 1660, today the manor house at Spitalstrasse 91a . This chapel was consecrated to St. Charles Borromeo in memory of his services to Lucerne and the Catholic towns. When the parish of St. Karl was founded in the 20th century, this Karl Borromäus patronage was transferred to the parish church.

Development and construction history

Three facts made it possible that the Church of St. Karl could become one of the most important buildings of the Catholic church building in the 20th century. The building site was chosen so that the church to be built was located at a dominant urban point: at the bridgehead between two quarters, on the Reuss, at the lowest point of the streets that come together here. The second circumstance for the unusual church building was the population of the surrounding quarters at that time. The majority were people from less well-off classes who were “very receptive to anti-clerical propaganda”. This led to the building of a new church and parish in this quarter. The third fact that led to the construction of this church was the fact that the Lucerne city pastor Joseph Ambühl was appointed bishop of the diocese of Basel in 1925 . He protected the construction of this church from all objections.

On March 8, 1930, the church council announced an open competition for the construction of a church for 900 people including a lower church for 150 people. The 68 submitted proposals were awarded a prize by a seven-person jury. The first three projects were approved for further processing. On July 29, 1931, the decision was made to submit the project by the then 33-year-old architect Fritz Metzger to the parish for voting. The modernity of the planned church caused unrest among the episcopal ordinariate. The Provost Schwendimann, who is responsible for questions of art, criticized Fritz Metzger's project that the position of the pillars robs the chancel of its prominent position and leads to a “democratic leveling out”. Bishop Ambühl struggled with the “extremely factual simplicity” of the project. Even so, the bishop did not reject the present project entirely. A committee founded to build the church argued with the creation of jobs in times of the Great Depression and high unemployment. At the parish assembly on April 17, 1932, 2,240 people voted for and 926 people against the building of the church. Bishop Ambühl laid the foundation stone himself on July 25, 1933. After a short construction period of a year for the size of the church, the church was consecrated on October 28, 1934.

The parish of St. Karl is responsible for the two quarters of Bramberg and Basel / Bernstrasse and has almost 3,000 Catholics (as of 2014).

Building description

Church tower and exterior

The St. Karl Church is located on the Reuss next to the St. Karli Bridge . The Reuss separates the two districts of Bramberg and Basel- / Bernstrasse . The church tower is skeletonized at the level of the bell house on the street side. Following the street, the church building is completed by a round choir, which spatially repeats the junction north of the church. On the south side of the church there is a terrace on the banks of the Reuss, which connects the architecture of the church with the river landscape. The roof, which protrudes far along the river bank, is supported by four pillars, which form a connection between the exterior and interior.

The bells were cast by H. Rüetschi , Aarau, in 1934 and consecrated on October 7th of the same year.

Skeletonized bell chamber
No. Chime
 Weight
(kg) 		dedication
 inscription
1 b 0 3382 Christ the King "Jesus Christ, Regem Regum, venite adoremus." = Jesus Christ, King of kings, comes, let us worship.
2 of the 1st 1960 St. Karl "Tuo patrocino, S. Carole, pasto bone parochiam nostram defende." = Through your patronage, Saint Charles, good shepherd, protect our parish.
3 it 1 1453 Maria "Sancta Maria, succurre miseris, ora pro populo, intercede pro clero." = Holy Mary, come to the aid of the poor, pray for the people, help the clergy.
4th ges 1 806 St. Caecilia "Sancta Cäcilia, virgo prudens et maryr invicta, ora pro nobis. Cantores pristini sanctuarii dedicaverunt me in honorem sanctae Cäcilia MCMXXXIII. “= Holy Cäcilia, you wise virgin and undefeated martyr, pray for us. The singers of the earlier shrine dedicated me to St. Cecilia.
5 as 1 585 St. Joseph "Sancte Joseph Filium ora in mortis nostrae hora gravissima." = Saint Joseph, please the Son of God in the extremely difficult hour of our death.
6th b 1 438 Brother Klaus "Beate Nicoaë de Flue, Sanctissimi cultor mirabilis, intercede pro nobis." = Blessed Nikolaus von Flüe, wonderful admirer of the Holy of Holies, stands up for us.
7th of the 2nd 237 Guardian Angel "Parochiam nostram manus conservet Angelica dum huius vasculi sonitus transit per aera." = The band of angels protect our parish while the sound of this little bell goes through the air.

inner space

inside view

Inside the church, a non-load-bearing wall spans the church service congregation. The presented columns follow the plan of the church and emphasize the connection between floor and ceiling. A ribbon of windows below the ceiling leads the daylight through stained glass windows into the interior of the church. Side altars and confessionals are located in niches, which are perceived from the outside as aisle-like segments, but inside do not affect the unified space of the nave and the chancel. The architect Fritz Metzger sums up the principles of this church building: wall, column and roof form the essential elements of the building. "Carrying, covering, enclosing ... From the beginning these ideas were linked to the possibilities of reinforced concrete construction." Regarding the unity of the nave with the chancel, Metzger writes: "The church wants to be a sanctuary and community."

Artistic equipment

Outside space

A Borromaeus Statue At the main stairway of the Church of: in the outer space of the church there are several works of art Eduard Bick from granite . For the main portal of the church on the south side, August Blaesi (1903–1979) created the four evangelists from sandstone . With their reduced forms, the figures fit into the simply designed front of the church. The relief at the entrance to the sacristy is by Leopold Haefliger (1906–1974) and reminds us that Karl Borromeo as Archbishop of Milan did not leave the city during the plague like other influential people , but faithfully took care of the sick with his motto humility . The over door above the western entrance is also by Leopold Haefliger. It shows how angels lead Charles Borromeo to heaven after his death. The fact that this depiction was placed on the west side of the church points to the importance of the west as the location of the sunset as a symbol of death. At the exit to the lower church there is a Pietà , which dates from 1903 and was moved here in the 1950s. It comes from Josef Vetter (1860–1936).

  • The four evangelists by August Bläsi

  • Plague relief by Leopold Häfliger

  • Supraporte with the deceased Karl Borromeo

Upper Church

Stained glass window by Hans Stocker
Baptism of Jesus, fresco by Hans Stocker
Tabernacle by Albert Schilling
Don Bosco, stained glass window by Hans Stocker

In March 1934 the Catholic parish of Lucerne announced a competition to design the newly built church. Since Pope Pius XI. In 1925 the Christ the King's Festival had been introduced as a countermovement to secularization , the parish took up the theme of Christ the King and determined Christ - Son of God - King as the theme to which the design of the church interior should be subordinated. Of the 40 designs received, the first prize went to Hans Stocker . Stocker created frescoes in the upper church that only seem to stick slightly to the church wall. The individual scenes were reduced to the essentials by Stocker, reflect the biblical area of Palestine in the landscape elements and through the robes of the people and, through the portrayal of parishioners, create an emotional connection between the community and the artistic design.

The picture in the choir apse shows Christ as Savior and Judge at the end of time . Until the redesign of the sanctuary in the course of the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council , the altar with the tabernacle stood under this image . To the left and right of this fresco, the apostles Peter and Paul and the church patron Karl Borromeo can be seen in the choir room (right) as well as the Mother of God , the Archangel Michael and St. Niklaus von Flüe (left). These figures are followed on both sides by holy virgins (Agnes, Cäcilia, Agatha, Catherine of Alexandria and Wiborada) and Latin doctors (Ambrose, Augustine, Hieronymus, Gregory the Great and Thomas Aquinas).

The program of ten frescoes in the nave begins at the main entrance of the church on the right side up to the front of the chancel, then on the left side again from the main entrance of the church to the front: the angel Gabriel promises Mary the baby Jesus (1), the magicians (2 ), the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple (3), John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan (4), Jesus is transfigured on Mount Tabor (5), Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives (6), Jesus in front of Pontius Pilate (7), Jesus on the cross (8), Jesus is taken into heaven (9), the vision of the apostle John of Jesus as the Lamb of God (10).

The glass windows were made according to designs by Hans Stocker. The ribbon of windows in the upper church is in the colors of the four elements earth, fire, water and air and represents the connection of the believers to the universe. Biblical symbols in the glass windows refer to the Eucharist (symbol fish) and to the mission for the believers to be living stones (symbol stone). The round windows show Mary with the baby Jesus (west side entrance), Karl Borromeo (sacristy window) and Jesus who absolves a kneeling woman from her sins (confessional room).

The tabernacle is an early work by Albert Schilling and dates from 1935. The four bronze reliefs refer to the Eucharist. The first relief shows the multiplication of bread by Jesus. The second relief depicts the praying Jesus, next to it a deer referring to Psalm 42. The feeding of the needy is shown on the third and fourth reliefs. The people's altar , which replaced the previous main altar after the Second Vatican Council, is a late work by Albert Schilling from 1977.

The metal surround of the pulpit shows scenes from the life of the church patron Karl Borromeo and was made by goldsmith Leo Birrer (1905–1974) based on designs by Roland Duss (1901–1977). Shown are: parishioners show Karl Borromeo the new church (1), Karl Borromeo blesses a child (2), he takes a vow (3), he gives a blessing to a sick person (4), he worships Our Lady (5) .

The relief in the altar niche on the east side was made by Paul Speck (1896–1966) and shows Saint Anthony of Padua on white ceramic handing out bread to the needy. On the opposite side, in the western altar niche, there is a relief by August Blaesi depicting Saint Rita .

Glass window in the stairwell

The staircase that connects the upper church with the lower church contains glass windows by Hans Stocker. Christ, St. Don Bosco , St. Elisabeth of Thuringia , the dove of the Holy Spirit , the then Pope Pius XI., Depictions of the zodiac , the four evangelists as well as motifs of work and the family are shown.

  • Christ

  • Angel

  • Pope Pius XI

  • Working-class mother

Lower church

A staircase to the right of the entrance leads to the lower church, which quotes the room of the upper church. Just as the staircase above connects the river bank with the upper church, the terrace in front of the lower church towards the river also creates a relationship between the outside space and the interior of the lower church. The tapestry behind the altar of the lower church was made by Erna Schillig (1900–1993). It shows the Assumption of Mary . There are two niches on the west side of the lower church. In the northern niche, a former side chapel, there is the portrait of Saint Theresa von Lisieux , painted by August Frey (1912–1998). In the southern niche is the baptismal font , on which there is a bronze group by Josef Zurkirchen (1912–1996), which shows the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John the Baptist . The frescoes and glass windows are by Hans Stocker. At the entrance to the lower church there is a painting of a young woman who represents the church ( Ecclesia ). The glass windows refer to the proximity to the river and show the water in salvation history, for example Noah's ark and the apostles, who donate baptism on behalf of Jesus.

Organs

Organ from Willisau AG from 1935

Organ of the upper church

In 1935 the company Orgelbau Willisau AG built the organ for the upper church. Ernst Schiess (1894–1981) from Bern and Fr. Stefan Koller (1893–1984) from Einsiedeln Abbey were experts . The instrument has three manuals and Pedal with 40 registers on abrasive loading , and total 2,748 pipes . The action mechanism is electric. The free pipe prospectus shows a modern, factual gesture.

Disposition of the organ:

I Hauptwerk C – g 3
Praestant 16 ′
Principal 8th'
Hollow flute 8th'
Gemshorn 8th'
Octave 4 ′
Reed flute 4 ′
Super octave 2 ′
Mixture V 2 ′
bassoon 16 ′
prong 8th'
II subsidiary work C – g 3
Reed flute 16 ′
Suavial 8th'
Covered 8th'
Quintatön 8th'
Dolzian 4 ′
recorder 4 ′
Night horn 2 ′
Sesquialtera II 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′ and 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
Zimbel IV 1'
Krummhorn 8th'
tremolo 8th'
III Swell C – g 3
Covered 16 ′
Principal 8th'
Reed flute 8th'
Salicional 8th'
Principal 4 ′
Night horn 4 '
Fifth 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
Forest flute 2 ′
Sharp 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
Trumpet harmonique 8th'
shawm 8th'
Clairon 4 ′
tremolo
Pedal C – f 1
Principal 16 ′
Sub bass 16 ′
Covered 16 ′
Principal 8th'
Capstan flute 8th'
Salizional 8th'
Choral bass 4 ′
Mixture IV 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
trombone 16 ′
Trumpet 8th'

Organ of the lower church

Organ in the crypt from 1935

Also in 1935, Orgelbau Willisau AG built the organ in the lower church. Eight registers are distributed over two manuals including pedal. All registers except for Principal 8 'are swellable.

I main work C–
Principal 8th'
Pointed flute 8th'
Night horn 4 ′
II subsidiary work C–
Covered 8th'
Suavial 4 ′
Gemshorn 2 ′
Pedal C – d 1
Sub bass 16 ′
Covered 8th'

Architectural importance of the church

Together with St. Anton Basel, the Church of St. Karl Luzern is the most frequently published example of Swiss modern church architecture. Unlike the St. Anton Basel Church, built between 1925 and 1927 as the first pure concrete church in Switzerland, the St. Karl Lucerne Church is a key building "because it is the first time that a convincing answer to the demands of the liturgical movement for active participation is presented." Othmar Birkner calls the Church of St. Karl a decisive breakthrough and an achievement that has been unsurpassed for decades.

literature

  • Action committee for church building St. Karl (ed.): Memorandum of the new church in St. Karl / Lucerne. Lucerne 1938.
  • Catholic Parish Office St. Karl (Ed.): 50 years of the Church of St. Karl. Lucerne 1984.
  • Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. Lucerne 1994.
  • André Rogger: Everything is all over again. Fritz Metzger's St. Karli Church in Lucerne. Reprint from: Yearbook of the Historical Society Lucerne. Vol. 14, pp. 2-51. Lucerne 1996.
  • Parish St. Karl (Ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. Lucerne 2012.

Web links

Commons : Sankt Karl Luzern  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. Blurb.
  2. ↑ Parish website, portrait section.Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  3. ^ Parish of St. Karl (ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. P. 2.
  4. ^ Paul Hilber, quoted from: Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. P. 66.
  5. ^ Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. P. 65.
  6. ^ Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. P. 66.
  7. ^ Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. P. 68.
  8. ^ Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. Pp. 66-69.
  9. ^ Parish website, Portrait section. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  10. ^ Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. 72-73.
  11. ^ Parish of St. Karl (ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. P. 20.
  12. ↑ Quotations from: Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. P. 73.
  13. ^ Parish of St. Karl (ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. Pp. 18-19.
  14. ^ Parish of St. Karl (ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. Pp. 7-9.
  15. ↑ a b Parish of St. Karl (Ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. P. 10.
  16. ^ Parish of St. Karl (ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. Pp. 12-13.
  17. ^ Parish of St. Karl (ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. P. 13
  18. ^ Parish of St. Karl (ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. P. 11.
  19. ^ Parish of St. Karl (ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. Pp. 16-17.
  20. ↑ a b Parish of St. Karl (Ed.): Welcome to the Church of St. Karl, Lucerne. P. 15.
  21. ^ A b Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. P. 74.
  22. ↑ Othmar Birkner: Building and Living in Switzerland 1850–1920. Zurich 1975, p. 102. Quoted from: Fabrizio Brentini: Building for the Church. Catholic church building of the 20th century in Switzerland. P. 74.

Coordinates: 47 ° 3 '20.1 "  N , 8 ° 17' 32.2"  E ; CH1903:  six hundred and sixty-four thousand eight hundred and fifty-six  /  211968