St. Kunibert (Cologne)

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Romanesque Church of St. Kunibert 2020
Cologne, St. Kunibert (choir and east towers)

St. Kunibert is one of the twelve Romanesque basilicas in Cologne . It is located near the Rhine in the northern old town .

history

St. Kunibert, detail Anton Woensam from 1531
Saint Kunibert
View of the lower level of the apse with the window pictures of St. Ursula and St. Cordula from around 1230
View into the nave, on the right the organ

St. Kunibert , born around 600, Bishop of Cologne and advisor to King Dagobert I , founded, according to legend, a church dedicated to St. Clemens on the site of today's basilica . After his death he was buried here according to his wishes.

Before 1210, at the instigation of the provost of St. Kunibertstift , the later Archbishop of Trier , Theoderich von Wied , the construction of a new church began. A crypt was created as a substructure to compensate for the slope of the terrain towards the Rhine. The choir was completed in 1226, and one year before the construction of the Gothic cathedral began , St. Kunibert was consecrated as a collegiate church in 1247 by the auxiliary bishop Arnold von Semgallen . On this occasion, the Archbishop of Cologne, Konrad von Hochstaden , organized a big festival for high nobility and high clergy.

The first west tower over the west transept was destroyed by flames in June 1376. It was renewed in Gothic forms and received a "kink helmet". Originally no west tower was planned, so the structure of the tower was precarious. In 1830 it collapsed as a result of a hurricane, was rebuilt by 1860 and finally sank again in ruins during World War II . On June 29, 1944 the roofs went up in flames, in 1944 the west tower was hit by a bomb and collapsed with parts of the transept. In 1945 further damage occurred. After the south aisle had been poorly prepared for church services, the choir and nave were rebuilt by 1955 under the direction of Karl Band ; the eastern pair of towers received low pyramid roofs this time. The western parts were secured, but remained in ruins and were separated from the nave. Only towards the end of the 1970s was the initiative taken to rebuild the western building (transept and tower). In 1993 the reconstruction was completed according to plans by the structural engineer Otmar Schwab and the architect Leo Hugot . The costs were borne by the Archdiocese of Cologne, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Association of Roman Churches in Cologne , which was ultimately founded as a "motivational aid" for the reconstruction of the western building of St. Kunibert on the initiative of Hiltrud Kier in particular and which has since been responsible for all Romanesque churches Cologne supports.

St. Kunibert's current shape is neither based entirely on the pre-war state, nor is it due to a recourse to the late Staufer original. Rather, against the background of very controversial discussions, compromises were made that relate to different stages of construction in the history of the basilica (cf. the literature).

Construction and equipment

Madonna of the Annunciation Group

The three-aisled church building is Cologne's youngest of the large Romanesque churches and since 1993 it has again formed the most striking silhouette in the city panorama north of the Gothic Cologne Cathedral . The late date of their construction is likely to be the reason for their very self-contained and richly shaped design. The two-storey outer walls of the apse rise filigree beneath the dwarf gallery that closes the facade . The gable of the nave roof rising up between the east towers has three structuring niches.

Inside, the basilica , which was restored after the Second World War , is characterized in its eastern parts by a light-flooded, differentiated hall structure with an apse . In contrast to the other Romanesque churches in Cologne, there are column-supported walkways in "double-shell" masonry on two levels. The original windows from the early 13th century (around 1230) that were stored during the war and have therefore been preserved are outstanding . In the upper zone, the legend of St. Kunibert is depicted on the outside right, on the left that of St. Clement, while the life of Christ in the form of a "root Jesse" dominates in the middle window. Saint Ursula (right) and Saint Cordula (left) can be found in the smaller windows in the lower zone . The middle ornamental symbol window is a work by the Cologne artist Will Thonett from the 1950s.

The nave with the three-storey wall structure and the ribbed vault in the "bound system" rests on rectangular pillars of alternating dimensions, the last pair in front of the eastern crossing area through a late Gothic (1439 donated by the canon of St. Kunibert , Hermanus de Arcka) annunciation group made of colored stone is excellent (probably from the Dombauhütte under Konrad Kuene van der Hallen ). Below the choir is the crypt supported by a central column with the Kunibertspütz , a well from pre-Christian times, the water of which is said to promise blessings for children. In the baptistery built into the southern transverse arm, as well as in the two niches at the beginning of the apse, there are remains of the originally rich wall paintings. The window in the apse of the crypt was also created by Will Thonett .

Other highlights of the furnishings are sculptures of the Madonna , Saint Quirinus and a Pietà , which was also made by Konrad Kuene.

Since 1998, St. Kunibert also hosts again as a result of secularization sold triptych with Crucifixion of the Master of the Legend George . A five-armed bronze chandelier with a crucifix from the end of the 15th century has been preserved between the nave and the west transept. Two panel paintings should also be mentioned: A Gregory mass from the same period in the outermost choir chapel and a winged altar with a resurrection scene by Bartholomäus Bruyn the Elder . The shrines for the relics of Saint Kunibert and the Saint Ewaldi brothers exhibited in the apse are works of the 19th century.

In 1993 the new organ with 41 registers was inaugurated. The builder is the Swiss organ builder Kuhn . In order to influence the visual impression of the building as little as possible, the somewhat unusual location between and in front of the pillars that separate the nave from the right aisle was chosen.

In 1998, a new treasury was opened in the north arm of the rebuilt west transept according to the design by Ingrid Bussenius, which gives an insight into other parts of the church treasure (including the bust reliquary of St. Anthony, two arm reliquaries). The modern works of art include the northern wooden doors and the Way of the Cross by Elmar Hillebrand from 1955, Hanns Rheindorf's silver cross and tabernacle door .

The Kunibertspütz

A floor slab designed by Elmar Hillebrand in 1955 is embedded in the choir , which refers to the crypt and the Kunibertspütz (fountain shaft). According to legend, there is a kind of paradise on its bottom, where children played and were fed with porridge by the Virgin Mary . According to the Cologne people, the children were not brought by the stork , but sprang from the Kunibertspütz. The custom persisted until the 19th century for women who did not want to have children to drink water from this well.

Kuhn organ

Front view of the Kuhn organ

The St. Kunibert organ was built in 1993 by the Swiss organ builder Kuhn . In contrast to what would be expected in a large Romanesque church with a view to an ideal sonic control of the church space, the organ is not on a gallery in the westwork of the church, but in the last two southern nave arcades. At this point, a late medieval swallow's nest organ was already located, albeit raised, on the wall of the nave . The (new) construction of a gallery in the westwork of St. Kunibert as a location for the new organ was not considered in 1993 because the westwork, which was only completely restored that year, would otherwise have lost its effectiveness.

The organ works are largely in line with the arcades; only the comparatively small positive protrudes from the arcade. This positioning means that the view through the nave of the church is largely free and open. The sound of the organ is based on the romantic-symphonic style of the French. Their sound language is thus in conscious contrast to the sound of many newer organs in the Cologne area, which appear to be shaped by the organ movement . The instrument has 43 stops on three manual works and a pedal.

I Grand-Orgue C-a 3
01. Montre 16 ′
02. Montre 08th'
03. Flûte harmonique 0 08th'
04th Viol 08th'
05. Bourdon 08th'
06th Prestant 04 ′
07th Duplicate 02 ′
08th. Fittings V. 02 ′
09. Cornet V 08th'
10. Trumpets 08th'
11. Clairon 04 ′
II positive C – a 3
12. Bourdon 16 ′
13. Montre 08th'
14th Salicional 08th'
15th Bourdon 08th'
16. Prestant 04 ′
17th Flûte douce 04 ′
18th Nazard 02 23
19th Quarte de Nazard 0 02 ′
20th Tierce 01 35
21st Plein-Jeu IV 01 13
22nd Cromorne 08th'
Tremblant
III Récit C – a 3
23. Flûte traversière 08th'
24. Cor de nuit 08th'
25th Viole de Gambe 08th'
26th Voix céleste 08th'
27. Flûte octaviante 04 ′
28. Viole 04 ′
29 Fifth 02 23
30th Octavine 02 ′
31. Basson 16 ′
32. Trompette harmonique 0 08th'
33. Hautbois 08th'
34. Voix humaine 08th'
35. Clairon harmonique 04 ′
Tremblant
Pedale C – f 1
36. Soubasse 00 32 ′
37. Montre 16 ′
38. Soubasse 16 ′
39. Flute 08th'
40. Violoncello 08th'
41. Flute 04 ′
42. Bombard 16 ′
43. Trumpets 08th'
  • Pairing :
    • Normal coupling: II / I, III / I, III / II, I / P, II / P, III / P.
    • Sub-octave coupling: III / I.

Bells

The Klemensbell from 1773 survived both world wars.

St. Kunibert has a collection of 24 bells. Ten bells form the liturgical peal, the eight larger ones in the west tower and the two smaller ones in the roof turret on the south wing of the west transept. The other 14 bells serve as a cymbal game, the carillon . After the cathedral bells, this ring is the largest in the city.

Up until the Second World War, St. Kunibert had two separately used bells. The larger one in the west tower was used exclusively by the monastery. After its abolition, it was used by the parish. It consisted of three bells cast by Martin Legros in 1773 St. Kunibert , St. Clement and hll. Ewalde in c′ – e′ – g ′ (chorton a ′ = 456 Hz ). Before the western tower collapsed, the bells were removed due to insufficient maintenance and thus escaped destruction. During the Second World War, the two larger bells survived the crash unscathed.

The smaller bell, Kirspelgeläut (parish bell ), from 1453, hung in the roof turret and was used by the parish, whose main altar was below it, in the south wing of the west bar. The smaller bell , dedicated to St. Consecrated to Clement, it came to St. Gregor im Elend in 1840 , where it was destroyed in the Second World War. The bell from 1422 called Zimbel served as a clock bell and was attached to the north side of the large tower spire. It survived the destruction of World War II together with the larger church bell ; both bells were turned off in the basement at this point.

The Bourdon from 1990 is the third largest bell in Cologne after the St. Petersglocke and the Pretiosa of the cathedral.

In 1958 two bells came, St. Jacob and St. Cordula , to complement the two bells Kirspel and Zimbel ; the latter was converted into a bell for this purpose. In 1990, as part of the restoration of the west building, the bells were redesigned with careful integration of the historical bells. The lost Ewaldiglocke was reconstructed and two larger festival bells , the angelic bell and the Marienglocke, as well as the Aveglocke were placed on the tower.

The bells Kirspel (formerly larger Kirspelglocke) and Zimbel (former clock bell) came in the style of the old parish bells in the newly built roof turret. The old function of the cymbal bell has worked in the new cymbal game. In addition to the 14 bells made for this purpose, the next seven larger bells of the liturgical peal were also equipped with hammer hammers as an extension of the cymbal game as well as for the clock and the angelus ringing.

Every day at 7 a.m., 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., the angel of the Lord is rung with the bell of Mary (three times, three strikes), followed by the ringing of prayer with the bell of the ave . Sundays and festive days are rung in the evening before after the Angelus has rung. The chiming order provides for different bell combinations for the individual times and occasions in the church year . The big bourdon only rings on the highest feast days and on special occasions ( Christmas , Epiphany , Maundy Thursday , Easter Sunday , Pentecost Sunday , Corpus Christi , Kirchweih , All Saints' Day , Kunibertstag and at the turn of the year ) as well as on the death of the Pope , the Archbishop of Cologne or a pastor.

No. Name, dedication Casting year Foundry, casting location Diameter
(mm, approx.)
Mass
(kg, approx.)
Strike tone
(a ′ = 435 Hz )
1 Bourdon , angel bell 1990 André Lehr / Koninklijke Eijsbouts , Asten 2,470 9,380 f 0 - 3 / 16
2 Comforter , Marienglocke 1990 André Lehr / Koninklijke Eijsbouts, Asten 1,840 3,880 b 0 - 3 / 16
3 Kunibert, Trinity , Mary , St. cross 1773 Martin Legros , Cologne 1,540 2,290 of 1 - 3 / 16
4th Clement, Trinity 1773 Martin Legros, Cologne 1,210 1,130 f 1 - 5 / 16
5 Ewalde, Trinity 1990 André Lehr / Koninklijke Eijsbouts, Asten 1,000 660 as 1 - 3 / 16
6th Aveglocke , Bruno 1990 André Lehr / Koninklijke Eijsbouts, Asten 890 440 b 1 - 4 / 16
7th Jacob 1958 Petit & Gebr. Edelbrock , Gescher 770 280 c 2 - 5 / 16
8th Cordula 1958 Petit & Gebr. Edelbrock, Gescher 675 180 d 2 - 6 / 16
9 Kirspel , Kunibert 1453 Sifart Duisterwald , Cologne 682 230 e 2 - 5 / 16
10 Zimbel (formerly clock bell) 1422 Christian Duisterwald , Cologne 546 100 g 2 - 4 / 16

See also

literature

  • Christoph Machat: St. Kunibert. The building from the beginning to the Second World War. In: Hiltrud Kier and Ulrich Krings (eds.): Cologne: The Roman churches. From the beginning to the Second World War. Cologne 1984, pp. 306-330. Stadtspuren series - Monuments in Cologne , Vol. 1. JP Bachem, ISBN 3-7616-0761-X .
  • Christoph Machat: St. Kunibert. Building history and reconstruction. In: Hiltrud Kier and Ulrich Krings (eds.): Cologne: The Roman churches in discussion 1946/47 and 1985. Cologne 1986, pp. 280–286. Stadtspuren series - Monuments in Cologne , Vol. 4. JP Bachem, ISBN 3-7616-0822-5 .
  • Ulrich Krings and Otmar Schwab: Cologne: The Romanesque churches. Destruction and restoration. Cologne 2007. Stadtspuren series - Monuments in Cologne , vol. 2. JP Bachem, ISBN 978-3-7616-1964-3 .
  • Jürgen Kaiser (text) and Florian Monheim (photos): The large Romanesque churches in Cologne. Greven Verlag, Cologne 2013, ISBN 978-3-7743-0615-8 , pp. 88-99.
  • Hiltrud Kier : The Romanesque churches in Cologne: Guide to history and furnishings. Second edition. JP Bachem, Cologne 2014, ISBN 978-3-7616-2842-3 , pp. 102-117.

Web links

Commons : St. Kunibert  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. a b Cologne - III / P / 41. Orgelbau Th. Kuhn AG, accessed on May 24, 2019 .
  2. Kunibertspütz on the website of the Förderverein Romanische Kirchen Köln eV
  3. Martin Seidler: The bells of St. Kunibert . In: Förderverein Romanische Kirchen Köln eV (Ed.): Colonia Romanica . VII. Cologne 1992, pp. 114-130.
  4. ^ Konrad Bund: The ringing of St. Kunibert in Cologne . In: Konrad Bund, Jörg Poettgen (Hrsg.): Yearbook for Glockenkunde . tape 9/10 . MRV Druck, Brühl 1998, p. 318 .

Coordinates: 50 ° 56 ′ 48.3 "  N , 6 ° 57 ′ 45.2"  E