St. Nikolai (Nordhausen)

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Nordhausen, old town hall with Nikolaikirche around 1900

The Protestant Church of St. Nikolai (also market church ) was a three-aisled late Gothic hall church in Nordhausen . It was located behind the town hall and was completely destroyed in the air raids on Nordhausen .

history

The church was first mentioned in a document in 1220. Originally it was a single-nave Romanesque hall church surrounded by a cemetery. Only the western building survived from it. The three-aisled nave was completed in 1490 (year in the keystone of the sacristy).

After the Reformation it became the main church in Nordhausen. The church was badly damaged in the town fire on August 21, 1612. The roof and the Gothic spiers were destroyed, along with all the bells, the clockwork and the organ. In 1615 and 1616 the spiers were replaced by two slim lantern-crowned hoods, and on 23 August 1630 new bells (3 chime and 2 Seiger bells) were hung in the towers.

Another city fire occurred on August 23, 1710, in which the church was again badly affected. The slate roof burned down completely, the towers together with the bells and clockwork that were newly installed after the fire in 1612 were destroyed. From September 17, 1710, the church had to be temporarily closed after parts of the vault fell during the service.

On August 21, 1712 there was another fire in the town, which affected the church. The repairs to the church after the fire in 1710 had not yet been completed. The two towers, which had been deserted since 1710, were hit again, they were not rebuilt afterwards. Instead, the bells were initially hung in the corridor between the church and town hall. In 1823 the construction of a bell chamber in the west gable of the church was started; this was completed in 1829 so that the bells could be hung there.

On April 3, 1945, the church was almost completely destroyed in the devastating air raid on the city , and many people who had sought protection in it were killed. The structural remains were removed in 1956 and a parking lot was created on the site. From August 2008 to June 2009, extensive archaeological investigations were carried out in the area of ​​the former church. Since 2011, which was at the site community center of the city with the city library Nordhausen built and opened in September, 2014.

Structural features

  • The church, a pure hall church without a transept, measured 30.7 m in length and 20.5 m in width.
  • The sacristy was located north of the choir in the corner between this and the aisle. It was originally a St. Nicholas chapel.
  • An adjoining room on the south side of the choir previously served as a sacristy and later as a place where the church treasure , which had consisted of medieval chalices, altar jugs and host boxes, was kept. In the 1920s, a memorial plaque was placed on the east side of this room for Hans Rosenthal, who died in the First World War. The room was redesigned into a wedding chapel ( Rosenthal Chapel ) through a donation from the father of the fallen man .
  • The altar dates from 1646. It was made in alabaster by the sculptor Johann Duck . It had a column frame with a Renaissance-Baroque gable structure. The predella showed Christ in the garden of Gethsemane as a relief . The Lord's Supper was depicted in the central shrine, framed by the apostles Peter and Paul . Above it was a depiction of the crucifixion, framed by two figures, symbolizing Christian doctrine and Christian strength. At the top the victorious Christ was depicted.
  • The pulpit to the left of the choir was a Renaissance work . The parapet was decorated with a relief. With scrollwork decorated pillars on which the angels stood, the area is divided into seven fields. In each of these fields there was an arched niche, which was surrounded by diamond blocks and contained an alabaster relief.
Shown were (from left to right):
1. the prophet Jeremiah ,
2. a kneeling youth in front of a cross (embodiment of Christian instruction),
3. seated man with the signs of the four evangelists ,
4. bearded man standing on a hemisphere and receiving a letter (as a symbol of the epistle ),
5. Moses sitting on a ball,
6. Saint Andrew ,
7. Saint James the Elder .
Below that were pedestals , surrounded by scrollwork. The pulpit was supported by a pillar decorated with fruit and cord threads. In 1726 this pillar was replaced by a figure of Samson tearing up a lion .
  • The octagonal wooden baptismal font in the middle of the choir was made in 1588. On its dome , Paul and the four evangelists were depicted in high relief . The baptismal frame had a lid.
  • The epitaph of Dr. Conrad Fromann and his wife, born in Strasbourg from Mülnheim, were on the south wall of the choir. It consisted of a two-story baroque gable architecture supported by columns. The burial of Christ was depicted in high relief in the middle field. On the sides, also in high relief, were statues of Charitas and the Doctrina, as well as a crucifix and a representation of the Ascension. In the pediment the Ascension of Elijah and the busts of the deceased were depicted , above them a phoenix rising from the flames and a pelican feeding its young with its blood .
  • The prayer rooms were built in 1726. These consisted of frames, between which parapet panels and glazed lattice windows were placed. The frames contained hanging leaves or presented columns. Baroque cranked cornice finished with richly carved gable tops. These showed loops of leaves and tendrils, putti and heraldic shields . The stalls were painted in white, blue and gold.
  • A statue of the Madonna stood in a niche in the east wall of the south aisle of the church. The carved wood figure was 1.4 m tall and dates from the late 15th century. She carried Jesus in her arms, at her feet was a crescent moon with a human face as a symbol of virginity.
  • An epitaph was dedicated to the mayor of Nordhausen, Johann Lutterot. He died in Nordhausen in 1520.
  • A vicariate was donated in 1352 by the Nordhausen citizen Conrad von Rotentor for his salvation, as well as that of his wife Melle and his son Johann. It was at the St. Michaelis altar. The foundation was confirmed on February 10th of this year. A second vicariate was founded in 1442 in honor of Saint Martin and Maria Magdalena . The documentary confirmation took place on February 23 of this year.

Tombstones

There were numerous tombstones in the church. They belonged to:

  1. Joachim Emden (August 9, 1684–1774)
  2. Johann Erich Lerche (Mayor of Nordhausen, † May 6, 1774)
  3. Michael Christian Tieroff (1631–17 September 1682)
  4. Ph. Jak. Lesser (father of Friedrich Christian Lesser , buried April 7, 1724)
  5. [...] (1708–4 July 1731)
  6. J. Ernst Pfeiffer (1591–16 July 1624)
  7. Anna Margaretha Arens b. Riedel (April 3, 1663 - November 13, 1711)
  8. Hieronymus Ostermeier († November 24, 1627)
  9. Andreas Pfeiffer (City Secretary, 1596–3 September 1652)
  10. Johann Ernst Söldner (December 5, 1619 - September 30, 1666)
  11. Johanna Maria Rohrmann b. Fromann (April 11, 1667 - January 5, 1701)
  12. Elisabeth Pfeifer (1551–21 August 1618) and Magdalene Wilde (1616–5 January 1621)
  13. The Apollo brothers (August 10, 1577 - January 10, 1625) and Johann Günther Wigand (December 22, 1586 - October 6, 1626)
  14. Dr. Konrad Fromann († October 3, 1683)
  15. Johann Georg Wilde
  16. August Sigismund Wilde (March 9, 1651 - August 16, 1676)
  17. Elisabeth Johan. Stramer
  18. Widow of Mayor Gassmann († 1570)
  19. Adam Grefe (Mayor, † April 30, 1595)
  20. JH Stender (City School)
  21. Christian Ernst Offeney

organ

An organ already existed in the middle of the 16th century. In 1542, 1546 and 1556 a salary for the organist was mentioned. On August 21, 1612, a city fire destroyed this organ. In 1619 the organ was rebuilt by Ezekiel Greutscher from Eisleben.

I Hauptwerk CD – g 2 a 2 h 2 c 3
1. Quintadena 16 ′
2. Principal 8th'
3. Coarse 8th'
4th octave 4 ′
5. Smalled up 4 ′
6th Fifth 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
7th Sif flute 2 ′ (?)
8th. Mixture VI
9. Zimbel III
10. Krummhorn 8th'(?)
11. Shelf?
Tremulant
II Rückpositiv CD – g 2 a 2 h 2 c 3
12. Quintadena 8th'
13. Principal 4 ′
14th Reed flute 4 ′
15th Pointed flute 2 ′
16. Nasat 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
17th Zimbel II
18th Dulcian 8th'
19th Singing shelf 4 ′ (?)
Tremulant
Pedal CD – c 1
20th Quintadena 16 ′
21st Sub bass 16 ′
22nd cornet 2 ′?
23. Peasant flute 1'(?)
24. Zimbel II
25th trombone 16 ′

On May 30, 1714, lightning strikes slightly damaged a pipe on the organ. In 1727 the organ front was repainted. In 1729 the church received a new organ. It was built by Johann Georg Papenius from Nordhausen. The prospectus was decorated with tendrils and baroque foliage, the figures of two timpani hummers were above the pipe core, the figures of King David with a harp and his wife with a small kettledrum stood to the left and right of the keyboard. Putti and angels with lutes, trumpets and trumpets were part of the prospectus. The prospectus remained until 1945.

I main work CD – c 3
1. Principal 8th'
2. Quintadena 16 ′
3. Gemshorn 8th'
4th Violdigamba 8th'
5. Slack traverse 8th'
6th Dumped 8th'
7th octave 4 ′
8th. Quinta 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
9. Super octave 2 ′
10. Ditone 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
11. Sesquialtera II
12. Mixture IV
13. Fagotto 16 ′
14th Trompeta 8th'
15th Trompeta 4 ′
Tremulant
II Rückpositiv CD – c 3
16. Principal 4 ′
17th Quintadena 8th'
18th Lovely Gedackt 8th'
19th Slack dolce 4 ′
20th Pipe slack 4 ′
21st Quinta 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
22nd octave 2 ′
23. Tertia 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
24. Super octave 1'
25th Sesquialtera II
26th Mixture III
27. Vox humana 8th'
Tremulant
III breastwork CD – c 3
28. Principal 2 ′
29 Dumped 8th'
30th Dumped 4 ′
31. Violetto 4 ′
32. Nasat 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
33. Quinta 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
34. Super octave 1'
35. Cymbel II
36. Skin boidamour 8th'
Tremulant
Pedal C–
37. Principal 8th'
38. Principal bass 16 ′
39. Violon bass 16 ′
40. Fifth bass 10 2 ⁄ 3  ′
41. Trombone bass 16 ′
42. Trumpet bass 8th'

In 1818 the organ was rebuilt by Heinrich Deppe from Nordhausen. A disposition has not been handed down. Another new building took place in 1901 by Ernst Röver from Hausneindorf.

I Manual C-g 3
1. Drone 16 ′
2. Principal 8th'
3. Viol 8th'
4th Hollow flute 8th'
5. Gemshorn 8th'
6th Dumped 8th'
7th octave 4 ′
8th. flute 4 ′
9. Fifth 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
10. octave 2 ′
11. Cornett V
12. Mixture III
13. Trumpet 8th'
II Manual C-g 3
14th Drone 16 ′
15th Principal 8th'
16. Open flute 8th'
17th Salizional 8th'
18th Viola d'amore 8th'
19th Delicately covered 8th'
20th octave 4 ′
21st Transverse flute 4 ′
22nd Forest flute 2 ′
23. Mixture III
24. clarinet 8th'
III Manual C-g 3
25th Dumped 16 ′
26th Violin principal 8th'
27. Concert flute 8th'
28. Aeoline 8th'
29 Vox coelestis 8th'
30th Salicet 4 ′
31. Flauto dolce 4 ′
32. Piccolo 2 ′
Pedal C – f 1
33. Dacked bass 16 ′
34. Fifth 10 2 ⁄ 3  ′
35. Octave bass 8th'
36. cello 8th'
37. Flute bass 8th'
38. octave 4 ′
49. trombone 16 ′

In 1935 the organ was rebuilt by P. Furtwängler & Hammer from Hanover on the initiative of Erich Knorr, organist at St. Blasii . The organ, which has been electric since then, had a mobile console. In 1937 the outdated wind machine was replaced by a “Ventus”.

I Manual C–
1. Drone 16 ′
2. Principal 8th'
3. Hollow flute 8th'
4th Gemshorn 8th'
5. Delicately covered 8th'
6th octave 4 ′
7th flute 4 ′
8th. Fifth 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
9. octave 2 ′
10. Reed flute 2 ′
11. Tertian II
12. Mixture IV
13. Trumpet 8th'
II Manual C–
14th Principal 8th'
15th Open flute 8th'
16. Quintadena 8th'
17th Salizet 8th'
18th octave 4 ′
19th recorder 4 ′
20th Nasat 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
21st third 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
22nd Forest flute 2 ′
23. Sharp III
24. Krummhorn 8th'
Tremulant
III Manual C–
25th Delicately covered 16 ′
26th Violin principal 8th'
27. Concert flute 8th'
28. Aeoline 8th'
29 Vox coelestis 8th'
30th octave 4 ′
31. Soft flute 4 ′
32. Piccolo 2 ′
33. Sif flute 1'
34. Quintzimbel III
35. Trumpet 8th'
Pedal C–
36. Principal bass 16 ′
37. Sub bass 16 ′
38. Subtle bass 16 ′
39. Fifth 10 2 ⁄ 3  ′
40. octave 8th'
41. Covered 8th'
42. octave 4 ′
43. Night horn 2 ′
44. Mixture III 2 ′
45. trombone 16 ′
46. Trumpet 8th'
47. Trumpet 4 ′

The organ was destroyed along with the church.

Personalities

Altar cross

Altar cross of the Church of St. Nikolai after the handover to the parish of St. Blasii (April 2015)

On April 3, 2015, the altar cross of the St. Nikolai Church returned to Nordhausen. It was made in 1859 for the Rosenthal chapel. It survived the bombing of Nordhausen and the fire of the church in 1945 unscathed and was rescued from the church ruins by the pastor Wartenberg. He took it with him to his new place of work. On Good Friday 2015, the cross was handed over to the Blasii-Altendorf parish and kept in the sacristy of the St. Blasii Church. On April 16, 2016, the theft of the cross from the church was found, the current whereabouts are uncertain.

literature

  • Eugen Duval: Nordhausen's medieval grave monuments . Nordhausen: Nordhäuser Section des Harzverein, Theodor Perschmann, 1880, pp. 58–67, digitized version on geschichtsportal-nordhausen.de
  • Paul Lauerwald: The Church of St. Nikolai in Nordhausen and the city fires of 1612, 1710 and 1712 , In: Nordhäuser Nachrichten. Südharzer Heimatblätter Edited by the Nordhausen City Archives , 2/2010
  • Johannes Schäfer: Nordhäuser Orgelchronik - History of the organ works in the thousand-year-old town of Nordhausen am Harz in Max Schneider (Ed.): Contributions to music research , Buchhandlung des Waisenhauses GmbH Halle / Saale Berlin 1939
  • Julius Schmidt: Descriptive representation of the older architectural and art monuments of the city of Nordhausen . Halle 1887, pp. 125–137.
  • August Stolberg, Friedrich Stolberg: The architectural and art monuments of the city of Nordhausen. In: The millennial Nordhausen. Volume II, Nordhausen 1927, pp. 539-544.
  • Robert Treutler: Churches in Nordhausen - A foray through church life . Verlag Neukirchner, 9/1997, pp. 20-22

Web links

Commons : St. Nikolai (Nordhausen)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Peter-Michael Sukalla: Archaeological excavations at the former market church “St. Nikolai “ , In: Nordhäuser Nachrichten. Südharzer Heimatblätter published by the Nordhausen City Archives , 3/2009
  2. ^ Certificate in the Nordhausen city archive on the Thuringia archive portal
  3. ↑ Barbara Rinke : Homecoming of the Nikolai Cross ( Memento of the original from June 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / blasiikirche-nordhausen.de archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. In: Evangelical in Nordhausen - Community letter of the Ev. Parishes St. Blasii-Altendorf, St. Jacobi-Frauenberg, Steinbrücken and the Nordhäuser deaf community , Nordhausen, 2015, p. 4f.
  4. ^ Police in Nordhausen: two crucifixes stolen from Nordhausen Blasii Church. Thuringian General, April 18, 2016.


Coordinates: 51 ° 30 ′ 7.8 "  N , 10 ° 47 ′ 37.6"  E