St. Maria Magdalena (Sonsbeck)
The Magdalenenkirche is a three-aisled brick building of the Catholic parish in Sonsbeck . It was dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene in 1431 and took over the function of the parish church from the Katharinenkirche, consecrated in 1203 .
The Magdalenenkirche was built in the Gothic style and has the shape of a basilica . The high choir of the central nave was oriented to the east and has a roof turret . In the north aisle is the Marienchor, also facing east. At this height, a spacious sacristy was added to the south aisle . Overall, the building is 39.6 m long and 23 m wide. The three-storey church tower is around 50 meters high. The first construction phase lasted from 1425 to 1431 and comprised the three-story tower, the nave and a small choir. The first major expansion took place in 1517 and affected the choir. It was raised considerably and towered over the nave considerably. This is recorded in drawings by Hendik Feltmann and Jan de Beijer. The two side aisles were added much later, in the 16th century, and were initially the same height as the central nave.
The church building is at ground level and can therefore also be reached by wheelchair. Induction loops of the loudspeaker system are embedded in the area of the front bench seats. With this technology, hearing aids (telephone setting) can be controlled directly.
Facility
High altar
In the high choir of the central nave is the gilded high altar. It is a carved winged altar by the sculptor Heinrich Fleige , which was made according to the plans of the architect Wilhelm Rincklake . The Gothic altar , made around 1886, represents Christ's work of redemption. To the right and left of it is a three-meter-high, seven-armed candelabra .
Rosary altar
The rosary altar, which is also carved, is in the Marienchor of the north aisle. He shows how “Mary with the Child” dedicated to St. Dominic hands a rosary .
Celebration altar
This altar is also located in the high choir and is a popular altar . Thus, in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, the priest can celebrate the Eucharist “turned towards the people” and not, as was customary in the past, with his back to the people towards the high altar. It is a work made from Eifel basalt by Will Horsten in 1971. At each corner of the square altar there is a silver-plated candlestick about one meter high on the floor.
To the right and left of the celebration altar is an artfully forged ambo . All the talks, the intercession , the reading of the scriptures , the gospel and the sermon are preached from here. Both, like the altar, are equipped with microphones for the loudspeaker system.
tabernacle
The tabernacle is the repository for the bread used in the Eucharist, the consecrated host . His place is to the left of the high altar. The Holy of Holies is locked in a "safe" made of artfully decorated precious metal, which rests on several pillars. At the top it is surmounted by two sculptures that stand under a canopy . The sculptures “Maria with the child” and above “Christ with the world apple”, like the pillars and canopy, are made of sandstone. The tabernacle dates from the early 16th century. To the left of it is a brass sconce with a red lantern. In it a candle burning "around the clock" represents the eternal light (as a sign of the presence of Jesus Christ in the host) and must be replaced regularly.
Baptismal font
The font was already in the Katharinenkirche, which was built before 1200, and dates from the 13th century. The Romanesque stone was transferred to the Magdalenenkirche in 1431 on the instructions of Eugene IV . The base of the granite block is square and merges into an octagonal basin. A concave metal hood in neo-Gothic style rests on it . During a baptism, the draining water is caught in it. The stone is the oldest piece of the rich furnishings and is in the center of the choir, between the high and the celebration altar.
Calvary
The Calvary dates back to 1483 and stood for centuries on the former cemetery that surrounded the church in an easterly direction . After the outdoor area was completely redesigned and the cemetery was relocated to the outskirts for reasons of space and hygiene, the mighty sandstone group disappeared into a warehouse. It was not until 1981 that the ensemble was restored as part of a major renovation. Inside the north aisle, it found a new place on the west side facing the tower. The group, which is set up on a stone pedestal, is almost 5 meters high and over 2 meters wide. It consists of a cross of Christ on which both the iron lance and the pole with the vinegar sponge are leaned. At the foot of the cross sits the life-size Christ with a crown of thorns and tied hands, in front of the tools of his torture. On the right behind the Savior is the scourge column with a sweat cloth, scepter , scourge , rope and Petri Hahn. On the opposite side is an almost 4 meter high cemetery lantern, in which a Lux aeterna used to be lit for the wake.
Choir stalls
The choir stalls flank the front area of the high choir on both sides. It is made of wood and has six seats each.
Confessionals
The two confessionals are each in the western area of the north and south aisles. The pieces made in the neo-Gothic style are made of wood and richly decorated. One shows the church patroness and the other the prodigal son . Both were created around 1900 in Jakob Ophey's workshop in Geldern .
Sculptures
- Mary with the child and the pear
Material: oak wood; Made: around 1450; Size: 100 cm
- Mary with the child and the grape
Material: oak wood; Made: around 1550; Height: 140 cm
- Mary's Lament
Material: wood; Made: around 1500; Size: 87 cm
Material: wood; Made: around 1500; Size: 75 cm
- St. Dymphna
Material: oak wood; Made: around 1500; Size: 95 cm
- St. Christopher
Material: sandstone; Made: around 1500; Size: 2 meters
organ
The pipe organ stands in the western area of the central nave on an organ stage. The spacious stage is anchored in the tower and can be reached via the tower ascent. It also offers space for the church choir . The organ was made in 1985 by the Sauer company . It has 23 registers , some of which come from the earlier "Seiffertorgel" from the 18th century.
Bells
There are four bells in total in the Magdalenenkirche. However, the bell in the roof turret (St. Barbara) does not work. The other three are located on the top floor of the bell tower, directly under the spire.
Tower clock
A mechanical clockwork is installed in the tower, which is controlled by the atomic clock . The dials on the north, west and south sides of the tower are visible from afar. Full hours are announced by the corresponding stroke of the bell (1 to 12) and half hours are always announced with one stroke.
literature
- Bernhard Roßhoff: Sonsbeck community on the Lower Rhine. Neusser Druckerei und Verlag, Neuss 1986, ISBN 3-88094-529-2 ( Rheinische Kunststätten issue 313).
Web links
- St. Maria Magdalena (website of the parish)
- St. Maria Magdalena (private website)
- Catholic Church of St. Maria Magdalena (website of the community of Sonsbeck)
Coordinates: 51 ° 36 ′ 32.1 ″ N , 6 ° 22 ′ 30.6 ″ E