St. Bernward's Church, Hildesheim
Encyclopedia
St. Bernward's Church is a catholic church in the city of Hildesheim
in Lower Saxony
, Germany
. The name refers to the bishop Bernward of Hildesheim
(960-1022) who was canonized by Pope Celestine III
.
in 1905–07 in a neoromanesque
style. From 1895–1913, Herzig built 43 churches of this style in the diocese of Hildesheim. When St. Bernward's Church was built, the romanesque westwork of St. Andrew's Church, Hildesheim and the Cathedral of Hildesheim
served as examples. The church was consecrated by bishop Adolf Bertram on 3 November 1907.
During World War II, St. Bernward's Church was heavily damaged by bombs on 22 February 1945
The windows were destroyed, the vault and the roof collapsed. The building could no longer be used for services. Then on 22 March 1945
the church was completely destroyed by incendiary bombs. Only a part of the tower and some walls remained standing.
The reconstruction was started as early as November 1948. When it was completed, St. Bernward's Church, the first destroyed church of Hildesheim to be rebuilt, was consecrated by bishop Joseph Godehard Machens in 1949.
consisting of three naves, but unlike the other churches in Hildesheim, its apse
and the altar are in the north of the building. The church facades to the south. The tower, which looks very similar to the tower of the Cathedral, is placed at the southern end.
St. Bernward's Church houses several sightworthy pieces of art. The gothic
retable
showing various saints and the Coronation of the Virgin
dates from 1430. It originally stood in Trinitatishospital, a hospital which was founded in 1230 and destroyed in 1945. There is also a remarkable statue representing Saint Bernward holding a Bernward Cross in his hand. The golden Bernward Cross which was made about 1130 is one of the most famous items in the museum of the Cathedral of Hildesheim.
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The name refers to the bishop Bernward of Hildesheim
Bishopric of Hildesheim
The Diocese of Hildesheim is a diocese or ecclesiastical territory of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Germany. Founded in 815 as a missionary diocese by King Louis the Pious, his son Louis the German appointed the famous former archbishop of Rheims, Ebbo, as bishop...
(960-1022) who was canonized by Pope Celestine III
Pope Celestine III
Pope Celestine III , born Giacinto Bobone, was elected Pope on March 21, 1191, and reigned until his death. He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome, though he was only a cardinal deacon before becoming Pope...
.
History
The church was built by the architect Richard Herzig (1851–1934) from HanoverHanover
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...
in 1905–07 in a neoromanesque
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
style. From 1895–1913, Herzig built 43 churches of this style in the diocese of Hildesheim. When St. Bernward's Church was built, the romanesque westwork of St. Andrew's Church, Hildesheim and the Cathedral of Hildesheim
St. Mary's Cathedral, Hildesheim
St. Mary's Cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany, is an important medieval Catholic cathedral, that has been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1985....
served as examples. The church was consecrated by bishop Adolf Bertram on 3 November 1907.
During World War II, St. Bernward's Church was heavily damaged by bombs on 22 February 1945
Bombing of Hildesheim in World War II
The German city of Hildesheim, ca. 30 kilometres south of Hanover was target of several Allied air raids in 1945.-Hildesheim during World War II:In 1939, Hildesheim had about 72,000 inhabitants...
The windows were destroyed, the vault and the roof collapsed. The building could no longer be used for services. Then on 22 March 1945
Bombing of Hildesheim in World War II
The German city of Hildesheim, ca. 30 kilometres south of Hanover was target of several Allied air raids in 1945.-Hildesheim during World War II:In 1939, Hildesheim had about 72,000 inhabitants...
the church was completely destroyed by incendiary bombs. Only a part of the tower and some walls remained standing.
The reconstruction was started as early as November 1948. When it was completed, St. Bernward's Church, the first destroyed church of Hildesheim to be rebuilt, was consecrated by bishop Joseph Godehard Machens in 1949.
Architecture and Interior
St. Bernward's Church is a basilicaBasilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
consisting of three naves, but unlike the other churches in Hildesheim, its apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
and the altar are in the north of the building. The church facades to the south. The tower, which looks very similar to the tower of the Cathedral, is placed at the southern end.
St. Bernward's Church houses several sightworthy pieces of art. The gothic
Gothic art
Gothic art was a Medieval art movement that developed in France out of Romanesque art in the mid-12th century, led by the concurrent development of Gothic architecture. It spread to all of Western Europe, but took over art more completely north of the Alps, never quite effacing more classical...
retable
Retable
A retable is a framed altarpiece, raised slightly above the back of the altar or communion table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlesticks and other ornaments....
showing various saints and the Coronation of the Virgin
Coronation of the Virgin
The Coronation of the Virgin or Coronation of Mary is a subject in Christian art, especially popular in Italy in the 13th to 15th centuries, but continuing in popularity until the 18th century and beyond. Christ, sometimes accompanied by God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove,...
dates from 1430. It originally stood in Trinitatishospital, a hospital which was founded in 1230 and destroyed in 1945. There is also a remarkable statue representing Saint Bernward holding a Bernward Cross in his hand. The golden Bernward Cross which was made about 1130 is one of the most famous items in the museum of the Cathedral of Hildesheim.