St. Martin (Willanzheim)
The Catholic Church of St. Martin in Willanzheim is the parish church of the Lower Franconian market. It is in the middle of the former Willanzheim fortified church, centrally located on Pfarrgasse.
history
A church in Willanzheim has been handed down since the 8th century. At that time, in the year 742, the Carolingian caretaker Karlmann donated the church to Bishop Burkard of Würzburg. From then on, the house of God was given to the respective landlords of Willanzheim as a separate church. These were among others the Zollner von Halberg and the Lords von Seinsheim . Only the patronage right remained with the Würzburg bishop. In the 14th century, the tower, which is the oldest part of the church, was renewed.
During the Thirty Years' War there was great damage to the church building. The building was renovated until 1653. In 1687 the church tower was given a Welsche dome . In 1699 the foundation stone was laid for a comprehensive renovation of the entire church, which was completed on September 25, 1730. The new church was consecrated by the Würzburg auxiliary bishop Johann Bernhard Mayer . Another renovation took place in 1875.
During the Second World War on April 5, 1945, low-flying aircraft severely damaged the church. It was rebuilt in 1945-1948, trying to restore the original state. The baroque interior of the church was lost forever. The services were meanwhile held in a barrack in the village. The tower was still being built until 1965; it was raised by one storey, clocks and bells were replaced and a new dome was put on it in 1965.
In the years 1998–2003 the surrounding fortified church was renovated , which was followed by an interior renovation of the church in 2004. The re-inauguration was celebrated on December 12, 2004 by the Archbishop of Bamberg, Ludwig Schick . The altar received new relics, including a lock of Mother Teresa . Today the church and the surrounding fortified church form a unit and form the historical town center. The Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation classifies the church building as a monument under the number D-6-75-179-1.
architecture
In contrast to many other churches, the Willanzheim house of God is not faced, but with the choir facing south. The hall building has a gable roof on the nave , the attached choir a hipped roof . ,
Nave and choir
A central portal with drilled frames and larger volutes at the bottom and smaller at the top in the corners dominates the facade of the north wall. A blown gable leads to a niche in which there is a statue of St. Martin , the church's patron. Like the portal, this niche is crowned with a blown gable. Two ox eyes are grouped around the portal . Three more are located above the entrance. A small cross protrudes over the ridge of the gable roof.
The nave is divided by three window axes on both sides. A side entrance in the east also has drilled frames. Next to it is the sacristy on the edge between the choir and nave. The choir is slightly lower than the nave and is also set apart from the nave by the different roof shape. It has five window axes and is divided inside by a pointed barrel vault.
tower
The tower of the church rises to the west like the sacristy between the nave and the choir. It is 42 meters high and has 6 floors. They are marked on the outside by cornices . Only the lower two are not externally recognizable. The church tower is square and tapers towards the top. The top floor, which was only added in 1965, is octagonal. Like the fifth floor, it is divided on each side by an arched window. French balconies are in front of each window.
Four clocks are attached to the top floor so that the time can be read from any direction. A Welsche hood with a lantern crowns the tower. Documents and coins are kept in the golden tower knob . A double cross, the so-called Lorraine cross , shows the direction of the wind.
Furnishing
The interior of the church is shaped by the renovations that were carried out after the great destruction in World War II. The church has a bright interior, in which the large altarpiece and the organ stand out.
altar
The altar dominates the back wall of the choir. It was created in 1951 to replace the destroyed baroque high altar that showed the miracle of Pentecost . The new altar is in white and gold and bears a plaque on the right side with the inscription: “Erected for the 60th Priest Jubileum d. HHG Council W. Bierl from his parish on 29 • VII • 1951 ”.
A small crucifix hangs over the central tabernacle . It is framed by two praying angels and crowned by a putti . Four vases, which are connected by festoons , close off the altar at the top. In the middle, a seated lamb dominates the altar. The altarpiece shows the division of the mantle by St. Martin of Tours. An inscription reads: "Martinus catechumenus hoc me veste contexit" (Martin covered me with this robe as a religious student).
pulpit
The pulpit, created around 1800 in classical forms in gold and white on the left side of the choir protrudes slightly into the arch. It can be entered via a stone staircase through the sacristy. The pulpit body, decorated with figures of the four evangelists , is pentagonal and runs down to a dome. From left to right you can see Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The sound cover has a dove inside as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Festons lead over to the actual cover. On the lower part of the lid are three angel heads, the tapering part is crowned by a standing putto. She is holding a cross in her left hand and the tablet with the twelve commandments in her right hand.
Organ and galleries
The organ from 1953 protrudes over the upper gallery. It was created by Hans Klais and has 2 manuals and 18 stops. The two-story galleries made of plain wood fill the entire north wall. Four pillars support each gallery level. The only decoration is a simple wooden cross, which protrudes semi-plastic from the lower gallery balcony.
Bells
The bell chamber of the church is on the top floor of the tower. Sound hatches amplify the sound of the bells outwards. The four bells were replaced after World War II and have been in the church since 1965. The Martinus bell is the largest, followed by the bell dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Next to it are the Johannes Baptist bell and the death bell, which is dedicated to St. Joseph, in the tower.
Further equipment
The figures of St. Wendelin (left) and St. Francis of Assisi (right) stand on plinths under the gallery. In niches of the choir are Joseph with the baby Jesus in his arms and Mary, who is depicted as the Queen of Heaven. Both are carried in processions. All figures are colored.
On the side altars to the left and right of the choir arch stands Mary, again as the Queen of Heaven with an orb and the baby Jesus (right), on the left Saint Joseph, who under his mantle protects some craftsmen as the patron saint of this professional group. Next to the simple baptismal font in the choir is the likewise simple ambo with an embedded stone from Philippi, the place of activity of the apostle Paul.
Since 2004 there has also been a crucifix made of linden wood above the choir arch. It is designed as a double cross, Christ raises his left hand in blessing. It was created by the Bergtheim sculptor Tilman Hornung. The church is surrounded by fourteen stations on a modern Way of the Cross . The church contains two confessionals.
Outside
In the west there is a large mount of olives scene next to the church choir. It is covered by a pent roof with the biblical saying “Not my will, but yours be done +”. Opposite the praying Jesus stands an angel with a chalice, the disciples are sleeping in the background.
literature
- Hans Bauer: District of Kitzingen. An art and culture guide . Market wide 1993.
- Georg Dehio: Handbook of the German art monuments. Bavaria I: Franconia . Munich and Berlin 1999.
- Karl-Heinz Wolbert: The fortified church in Willanzheim . In: Under the spell of the Schwanberg. Yearbook for the district of Kitzingen 2009 . Dettelbach 2009.
- Oswald Zobel, Georg Karukaparampil: Little church guide to the parish church of St. Martin Willanzheim . Willanzheim.
Individual evidence
- ^ Wolbert, Karl-Heinz: The fortified church in Willanzheim . P. 329.
- ↑ Geodata: ( Page no longer available , search in web archives: Monument number D-6-75-179-1 ), accessed on November 11, 2013.
- ↑ See: Zobel, Oswald (and others): Kleiner Kirchenführer .
- ^ Dehio, Georg: Handbook of German art monuments . P. 1121.
- ↑ Klais Orgelbau: Opusliste , PDF file, p. 21, accessed on November 14, 2013.
- ↑ See: Oskar, Zobel (and others): Kleiner Kirchenführer .
- ^ Bauer, Hans: District of Kitzingen . P. 119.
Web links
Coordinates: 49 ° 40 ′ 50.2 ″ N , 10 ° 13 ′ 54.1 ″ E