Church of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian, Sülze
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian in Sülze
is a church of the Evangelical-Lutheran parish
in the church district (Kirchenkreis) of Celle and in the Evangelical-Lutheran State Church of Hanover.
, the villages in the present-day parish of Sülze used to belong to the parish of St. Lambertus in Bergen. But poor road conditions and the resulting poor attendance at the church in Bergen led in 1475 to efforts by the Duke of Celle, Frederick the Pious, to build a chapel dedicated to Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian in Sülze. To begin with this was not given its own rectorate, but was looked after by the priest at Bergen, who celebrated mass there once a week. In 1502 a church foundation was established by the brothers, Carsten and Otto von Harling, and an Eversen widow, Gesche Vlothwedel. A large sum of money, which two years later was topped up, was with the authority of Bishop Henry III of Minden
and of the [then] church leaders (Kirchenherren) of Bergen invested in the Monastery of St Michael (Kloster St. Michaelis) in Lüneburg
and from the interest a rectorate was established for Sülze. In the foundation deed of 1504 the duties of the priest and the rights of the parish of St. Lambertus for Sülze were reallocated to the Sülze church and the rights of the patron, the von Harling family, were set out in detail. For example, the new priest had to live in Sülze, hold three masses a week and say intercessory prayers for the patron and his family. The rights of the church patron consisted mainly of the right of the appointment of the church warden and sidesmen (Opferleute), the enfeoffment
of the farms belonging to the parish and the inspection of church accounts. Otherwise, the rights of the Bergen church remained in existence apart from a settlement in 1645. Exactly when the Reformation
was introduced into the parish of Sülze cannot be stated with certainty, however based on the adoption of the new doctrine, it can be deduced that it would have been no later than 1529. In addition to the villages of Eversen
and Sülze, parish of Sülze was joined by Altensalzkoth
in 1725, Huxahl, Lindhorst und Diesten
in 1869, Feuerschützenbostel in 1927, Kohlenbach
in 1963, Bergen
in 1971 and Miele und Rehwinkel in 2001.
Today, in addition to the Sunday service, there are numerous other activities. For example, there are music groups, choirs, Bible groups and various events for young people. The current pastor is Sören Bein.
in Sülze was built in 1475 on the initiative of the Duke of Celle, Frederick the Pious
. The exact location of this church has not been passed down. In the early 17th century the chapel had to be demolished due to its poor state of repair.
In 1753 agreement was reached between the pastor
, the church warden and the patron
over the necessity for a new church. In parallel, a new clock tower was also to be built, but not separately as it had been hitherto, but integrated into the church building. In order to secure funding for the new church, petitions were lodged with various authorities. For example, the royal chamber was asked for oak wood, an application was made to the state church for permission to raise a collection
and the farm owners in the parish were asked to commit funds and labour. By the end of January 1754 funding for the new church was ensured, so that the more important construction work was completed by December 1754 and the church could be consecrated. In 1897 building work took place to extend the nave
from its original 19.3 metres to the presnt 27 metres. In 1932 and 1954 further major renovation work was carried out.
The pulpit
dates to the 17th century and was already in use in the second Sülze church. As part of the new church in 1754 it was combined with a new altar
wall and turned into a so-called Kanzelaltar or combined pulpit and altar . In the arcade
spaces of the hexagonal pulpit there are oil paintings of the evangelists
Luke, Mark and Matthew. Above the pulpit is a corona with the eye of God and a carved dove
, which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit
. .
Holy sculptures
Left and right of the altar there are sculpture
s of the church's patron saints, Fabian and Sebastian. The 1.09 metre high figure of Sebastian dates to the late 15th century and was carved from oak
. The original arrows as well as a forearm and a hand are missing. The painting has only been partially preserved. The figure of Saint Fabian was carved in 2000, also from oak, by Erich Klages.
Paintings
There are numerous paintings of former pastors in the church, including pictures from the early 17th century.
Baptismal font
The baptismal font
, fashioned from sandstone
dates to the year 1608 and was bestowed by the builder of the second Sülzer church, the Amtsmann, Carl Dietrichs. In 1898 the old font was replaced by a Neogothic one, but was returned to the church during the renovation in 1966.
Organ
The first organ
was installed in the church in 1820, but was replaced several times in the following decades. The present organ was built by the Hanoverian
firm of Emil Hammer Orgelbau and dedicated in 1986.
, Heinrich Schulze, who died of 'consumption
' a few years later and did not live to see the new building. The parish hall, in which confirmation courses and other church activities are held, was built in 1939 after its predecessor had to be torn down as it had fallen into disrepair.
. Due to a lack of space, a new one had to be laid out in the 1920s. After a long search the choice fell on a field at the exit to the village on the road to Eversen and in 1825 the first burial took place in the new cemetery. In the course of the following decades, the cemetery had to be extended several times. When the nave of the church was lengthened the patron's burial area in the crypt
became available. In return for a hereditary graveyard, both lines of the von Harling family relinquished their right to be buried in the church. In 1965 a small chapel was built at the cemetery (extended in 1974 and 1991), so that funerals no longer had to be conducted in the church itself, as was usual until the 1960s, but could take place in the Chapel of Peace.
Sülze (Bergen)
Sülze is a village administered by the Lower Saxon town of Bergen in the northern part of Celle district on the Lüneburg Heath in North Germany.- Geography :...
is a church of the Evangelical-Lutheran parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in the church district (Kirchenkreis) of Celle and in the Evangelical-Lutheran State Church of Hanover.
History of the parish
From the time of the high Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the villages in the present-day parish of Sülze used to belong to the parish of St. Lambertus in Bergen. But poor road conditions and the resulting poor attendance at the church in Bergen led in 1475 to efforts by the Duke of Celle, Frederick the Pious, to build a chapel dedicated to Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian in Sülze. To begin with this was not given its own rectorate, but was looked after by the priest at Bergen, who celebrated mass there once a week. In 1502 a church foundation was established by the brothers, Carsten and Otto von Harling, and an Eversen widow, Gesche Vlothwedel. A large sum of money, which two years later was topped up, was with the authority of Bishop Henry III of Minden
Bishopric of Minden
The Bishopric of Minden was a Roman Catholic diocese and a state, Prince-bishopric of Minden , of the Holy Roman Empire. Its capital was Minden which is in modern day Germany.-History:...
and of the [then] church leaders (Kirchenherren) of Bergen invested in the Monastery of St Michael (Kloster St. Michaelis) in Lüneburg
Lüneburg
Lüneburg is a town in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located about southeast of fellow Hanseatic city Hamburg. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, and one of Hamburg's inner suburbs...
and from the interest a rectorate was established for Sülze. In the foundation deed of 1504 the duties of the priest and the rights of the parish of St. Lambertus for Sülze were reallocated to the Sülze church and the rights of the patron, the von Harling family, were set out in detail. For example, the new priest had to live in Sülze, hold three masses a week and say intercessory prayers for the patron and his family. The rights of the church patron consisted mainly of the right of the appointment of the church warden and sidesmen (Opferleute), the enfeoffment
Enfeoffment
Under the European feudal system, enfeoffment was the deed by which a person was given land in exchange for a pledge of service. This mechanism was later used to avoid restrictions on the passage of title in land by a system in which a landowner would give land to one person for the use of another...
of the farms belonging to the parish and the inspection of church accounts. Otherwise, the rights of the Bergen church remained in existence apart from a settlement in 1645. Exactly when the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
was introduced into the parish of Sülze cannot be stated with certainty, however based on the adoption of the new doctrine, it can be deduced that it would have been no later than 1529. In addition to the villages of Eversen
Eversen (Bergen)
Eversen is a village in the town of Bergen in the northern part of Celle district on the Lüneburg Heath in the north German state of Lower Saxony....
and Sülze, parish of Sülze was joined by Altensalzkoth
Altensalzkoth
Altensalzkoth is a village in the Lower Saxon town of Bergen in north Germany. It belongs to the parish of Eversen in the district of Celle on the Lüneburg Heath. It lies 13 km north of Celle on the Landesstraße L 240 and currently has 65 inhabitants....
in 1725, Huxahl, Lindhorst und Diesten
Diesten
Diesten is a village subordinated to the Lower Saxon town of Bergen in the northern part of Celle district on the Lüneburg Heath in northern Germany. It lies 20 km north of Celle on state road K 240 and currently has 357 inhabitants....
in 1869, Feuerschützenbostel in 1927, Kohlenbach
Kohlenbach
Kohlenbach is a village in the parish of Eversen which belongs to the tow of Bergen on the Lüneburg Heath in Celle district in the north German state of Lower Saxony.- History :...
in 1963, Bergen
Hassel (Bergen)
Hassel is a village administered by the Lower Saxon town of Bergen in the northern part of Celle district on the Lüneburg Heath in North Germany.- Geography :...
in 1971 and Miele und Rehwinkel in 2001.
Today, in addition to the Sunday service, there are numerous other activities. For example, there are music groups, choirs, Bible groups and various events for young people. The current pastor is Sören Bein.
First chapel of 1475
The first chapelChapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
in Sülze was built in 1475 on the initiative of the Duke of Celle, Frederick the Pious
Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Frederick II , also known as Frederick the Pious was the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Prince of Lüneburg from 1434 to 1457 and from 1472 to 1478.- Life :...
. The exact location of this church has not been passed down. In the early 17th century the chapel had to be demolished due to its poor state of repair.
New early 17th century church
In the early 17th century a new timber-framed church was built under the direction of the district magistrate (Amtsmann), Carl Dietrich. A clock tower was only built after the church had been finished, around 1624, but it stood slightly apart from the main church building. Due to subsidence of the foundations and rotting of the ground timbers this had become unsound by the middle of the 18th century. A survey carried out in 1745 recommended a new building, so the planned renovation measures were abandoned and a new church was planned.Construction of the present church in 1754
Church buildingIn 1753 agreement was reached between the pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, the church warden and the patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
over the necessity for a new church. In parallel, a new clock tower was also to be built, but not separately as it had been hitherto, but integrated into the church building. In order to secure funding for the new church, petitions were lodged with various authorities. For example, the royal chamber was asked for oak wood, an application was made to the state church for permission to raise a collection
Offertory
The Offertory is the portion of a Eucharistic service when bread and wine are brought to the altar. The offertory exists in many liturgical Christian denominations, though the Eucharistic theology varies among celebrations conducted by these denominations....
and the farm owners in the parish were asked to commit funds and labour. By the end of January 1754 funding for the new church was ensured, so that the more important construction work was completed by December 1754 and the church could be consecrated. In 1897 building work took place to extend the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
from its original 19.3 metres to the presnt 27 metres. In 1932 and 1954 further major renovation work was carried out.
Interior
Combined pulpit and altarThe pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
dates to the 17th century and was already in use in the second Sülze church. As part of the new church in 1754 it was combined with a new altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
wall and turned into a so-called Kanzelaltar or combined pulpit and altar . In the arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
spaces of the hexagonal pulpit there are oil paintings of the evangelists
Four Evangelists
In Christian tradition the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark...
Luke, Mark and Matthew. Above the pulpit is a corona with the eye of God and a carved dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
, which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. .
Holy sculptures
Left and right of the altar there are sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s of the church's patron saints, Fabian and Sebastian. The 1.09 metre high figure of Sebastian dates to the late 15th century and was carved from oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
. The original arrows as well as a forearm and a hand are missing. The painting has only been partially preserved. The figure of Saint Fabian was carved in 2000, also from oak, by Erich Klages.
Paintings
There are numerous paintings of former pastors in the church, including pictures from the early 17th century.
Baptismal font
The baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
, fashioned from sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
dates to the year 1608 and was bestowed by the builder of the second Sülzer church, the Amtsmann, Carl Dietrichs. In 1898 the old font was replaced by a Neogothic one, but was returned to the church during the renovation in 1966.
Organ
The first organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
was installed in the church in 1820, but was replaced several times in the following decades. The present organ was built by the Hanoverian
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
firm of Emil Hammer Orgelbau and dedicated in 1986.
Rectory and parish hall
The current rectory was built at the end of the 18th century on the initiative of the then pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, Heinrich Schulze, who died of 'consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
' a few years later and did not live to see the new building. The parish hall, in which confirmation courses and other church activities are held, was built in 1939 after its predecessor had to be torn down as it had fallen into disrepair.
Cemetery
Since the second church was built in the 17th century a piece of land immediately next to the church has been used as a cemeteryCemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
. Due to a lack of space, a new one had to be laid out in the 1920s. After a long search the choice fell on a field at the exit to the village on the road to Eversen and in 1825 the first burial took place in the new cemetery. In the course of the following decades, the cemetery had to be extended several times. When the nave of the church was lengthened the patron's burial area in the crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
became available. In return for a hereditary graveyard, both lines of the von Harling family relinquished their right to be buried in the church. In 1965 a small chapel was built at the cemetery (extended in 1974 and 1991), so that funerals no longer had to be conducted in the church itself, as was usual until the 1960s, but could take place in the Chapel of Peace.
Sources
- Kirchengemeinde Sülze - Festschrift zum Jubiläumsjahr 2004
- Franz Rathmann: Dorfbuch Eversen. Ein Haus- und Lesebuch, 1998, ISBN 3921744091