St. Ludgerus (Heek)
The Catholic parish church of St. Ludgerus is a listed church building in Heek , a municipality in the Borken district in western Münsterland. The old main nave of the church was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. Century built. Inside there are numerous remarkable pieces of equipment. The patron saint is Saint Ludger .
history
A parish in Heek was first mentioned in 1256. Heek is one of the original parishes of the Münster diocese. The old nave of the church was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. Century built. At the beginning of the 14th century it was thoroughly redesigned. Pointed, Gothic tracery windows were installed. In addition, the church was given a vaulted ceiling, the bulging, brick arches of which extend deep and rest on sandstone consoles. In 1504 the foundation stone was laid for a large new choir, which was completed around 1520 in the late Gothic style . The neo-Romanesque church tower was completed in 1834 after the dilapidated stair tower had been demolished in 1822/23. 1968–70 the church was expanded with additions on both sides. They lean against the late Gothic choir with towed roofs to the south and north. This took into account the additional need for seats and also implemented the liturgical requirements of the Second Vatican Council by creating a cross-shaped church space.
Namesake
Saint Ludger was born near Utrecht in 742. He was the son of Christian parents from a Frisian noble family. From an early age he was destined for a spiritual career. Charlemagne appointed him head of mission for central Friesland, and later for western Saxony (today's western Westphalia). Around 790 a missionary diocese was established around Münster. In 805 he was ordained as Bishop of Munster. He proselytized without coercion with persuasion and sermons. In 809 he died in Billerbeck.
There is no documentary evidence that the church in Heek was founded by Ludgerus. However, he is said to have felled a mighty oak tree in front of the unbelievers and preached in Heek shortly before his death.
Exterior architecture
Two doors on the side aisles and the tower portal allow access to the church. The so-called Ochtruper Tor and the Romanesque south portal from approx. 1250 are closed. The tympanum above the south portal shows a cross that rests on a semi-arch as a foot.
Furnishing
Sanctuary
In the center of the church at the intersection of the axes of the main nave and side aisles is the altar by Johannes Niemeier . Despite its weight of 30 quintals, the altar made of Roman travertine looks light. In the altar is the “grave” with relics of St. James the Apostle , St. Vitalis, the companions of St. Ursula and other holy martyrs from the catacombs of St. Clement of Rome . On the altar plate there are five crosses in memory of the five wounds of Jesus. The altar was consecrated in 1971.
The ambo , which was purchased after the church was expanded in 1968/70, is located near the altar . Like the altar, it is a work by Johannes Niemeier.
Also at the altar is the late Gothic tabernacle of 1520. The two coat of arms over the wrought-iron Tabernakelgitter remember the founders, the lords Nienborger Matthias de Sasse and his wife Margaret of Schonefeld. The sacrament tower made of Baumberger sandstone extends into the vault. The figures of the apostles in the niches were added in 1977 based on old models. The tabernacle serves as a repository for the Holy Eucharist , as the eternal light indicates.
Hochkreuz
The Romanesque high cross, known locally as the "Gnadenkreuz", stands free in the choir. The majority of the cross is classified around 1200. It has a height of 1.46 m, the span of the arms is 1.28 m. The reliquary in the back of the head contains a. the relics of St. John , St. Paul , St. Ludgerus , St. Stephen , from the cross of Christ, St. Nicholas , St. James , St. Cosmas and St. Gereon . In the past, people believed that being close to and touching the relics would help and heal.
Baptismal font
In the entrance area of the church we find the Romanesque baptismal font (before 1250) of the Bentheim type . It rests on a square base, supported by four lion-like figures that turn their predatory teeth towards us. A bead ring separates the base from the baptismal font. The two opposing double dew bands on the baptismal font are reminiscent of wooden barrel baptisms that were held together with thick ropes. The baptismal font is richly decorated with a group of figures with horses, tendrils, masks, grapes and palmettes .
Grave slabs
On the right side in the entrance area in the tower is the grave slab of Anna Margaretha von Heiden. It was found in individual pieces under the wooden floor during the church restoration in 1970. Another grave slab from 1510, lying upside down in the sand, served as a stepping stone in front of the Romanesque side portal. It can also be found in the tower. Both tombstones remind of the time when the church of Heek also served as a burial place for the Nienburg castle men and noble women.
painting
In the tower hangs the painting “Joseph leads the baby Jesus”. It was created in 1985 based on a sketch by the baroque painter Murillo .
The altarpiece of the former Baroque altar hangs above the Pietà. It shows Ludgerus as the founder of the Heek parish church with his entourage. He gave the church plan, gospel book and crosier from his hands. His gaze is directed to heaven as a world of angels. In the lower left corner the picture is dated: Margaretha Elisa. King 1752.
Statues
Anna Selbdritt is a wooden sculpture from the 3rd quarter of the 15th century. After being redesigned to become the “Mother of God with Child”, after having changed location several times, it has found its place behind a wrought iron grille.
The path through the aisle leads past a colored Pietà from the 19th century, which is reminiscent of the Achtermannsche Pietà in the cathedral of Münster, which was destroyed during the war .
There are still two carved wooden figures from the old Baroque altar : Bernhard von Clairvaux is shown in the costume of the Cistercians with a falling robe and a hood covering the shoulder. In his right hand he has Jesus' instruments of suffering: cross, lance and pipe with sponge. Johannes Nepomuk is dressed in a cassock and a knee-length choir shirt. The cloak with pieces of fur identifies him as a canon or canon. The popular saint was martyred because of his Christian beliefs.
The Radiant Madonna floats in the church . It is a cast of a crescent Madonna from 1830 and shows Mary raised to the heights of heaven. The original is in the chapel of the retirement home in Heek.
Antependium
Among other things, an antependium has been preserved from the neo-Gothic altar that was in the church from 1869 to 1969 . This was partly made with bead embroidery by three ladies from the von Heyden company . It is an artful representation of the Last Supper based on the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci and has its place above the old choir stalls in the sacristy.
organ
The order for the construction of the new organ, the sixth in the 350-year history of the church, was awarded to the Romanus Seifert company in Kevelaer in 1990. The organ has 30 registers. On the parapet of the organ stage are the figures of St. Cecilia and King David from 1830, both patrons of church music.
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- Coupling : II / I, I / P, II / P.
Bells
The five bells have a total history of more than 450 years.
| No. |
Surname |
Casting year |
Caster |
Diameter (mm) |
Mass (kg) |
Nominal (16th note) |
Inscription, notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph's bell | 1978 | Petit & Gebr. Edelbrock, Gescher | 1455 | 2020 | d 1 - 8 ⁄ 16 | I am called Joseph, protector on earth, intercessor in heaven |
| 2 | Mary Bell | 1724 | Johan Sweys | 1160 | 1100 | f 1 - 6 ⁄ 16 | with Crescent Madonna: “Holy Mary, pray for your people. I weep the dead, I drive away the plague, I break the lightning. I was poured with funds from the parish under Pastor JB Volbier. Johan Sweys created me. God alone be the glory. Münster, in the year 1724 ", tone f-6/16, |
| 3 | Salvator (= redeemer) bell | 1724 | Johan Sweys | 1020 | 700 | g 1 - 5 ⁄ 16 | with blessing Christ with globe: “Redeemer, save your people! I praise the true God, I call the people, I gather the clergy. I was poured with funds from the parish under Pastor JB Volbier. Johan Sweys created me. God alone be the glory. Münster, in 1724 " |
| 4th | Ludgerus bell | 1647 | 960 | 500 | g 1 - 12 ⁄ 16 | "... (partly illegible). In the year of salvation 1647. My name is Ludgerus " | |
| Jesus-Maria bell | 1589 | Johan Bilck | 200 | 4th | (old sacristy bell): “In the year of the Lord 1589. Jesus Maria. Glory to God in the highest. Johan Bilck made me. " |
Individual evidence
Web links
Coordinates: 52 ° 6 ′ 59.3 " N , 7 ° 6 ′ 44" E