Alt St. Katharina

Alt St. Katharina in Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, stands as a testament to the rich historical tapestry of the region. This ancient church, with its origins dating back to the end of the 13th century, is the oldest surviving ecclesiastical building in the city of Hürth. Though no longer serving its original religious purpose, Alt St. Katharina continues to be a beacon of historical and architectural significance.

The History of Alt St. Katharina

The precise founding date of Alt St. Katharina is shrouded in mystery. While there is speculation about a Carolingian chapel existing on the site, the first concrete mention of the church appears in the Liber valoris at the end of the 13th century. Initially, it served as a private church for the local lords of Hürth Castle.

In the medieval period, the church likely began as a small chapel built by the castle lords. By 1695, the original structure had deteriorated significantly, leaving only dilapidated remains. The lower part of the tower, made of tuff stone, survived, while the upper part, constructed from clay bricks, had to be rebuilt. The remnants of a vault and a Gothic window suggest that the church was constructed at the beginning of the Gothic period, with the tower's substructure being even older.

Reconstruction and Early Modern Period

In 1695, the community rebuilt St. Katharina, and it was consecrated by the Abbot of Groß-Martin Abbey in Cologne on November 25, 1696, the feast day of its patron saint, St. Catherine. The tower's base was deemed stable enough to support a new stone tower, which was crowned with a baroque dome in 1691. The new church was a single-nave structure with robust buttresses on the west side, indicating an intention to add a vault later, which never materialized. The nave featured a flat, plastered beam ceiling, and the church was oriented north-south, ending in a semi-circular choir on the north side.

In 1802, a small sacristy was added in the corner between the choir and the tower on the northwest side. An organ loft was installed in the 1830s, and the bell tower housed three bells cast by G. Claren of Sieglar and Andreas Rodenkirchen of Deutz. Until 1830, the church had direct access to Hürth Castle, with a small bridge over the Duffesbach-fed pond connecting the church and castle grounds.

Interior and Furnishings

The interior of Alt St. Katharina was richly adorned with items from destroyed or dissolved monastery churches in Cologne and the surrounding area. The church boasted three altars: the high altar dedicated to the Holy Trinity, a side altar dedicated to St. Catherine, and another side altar dedicated to St. Benedict and St. Barbara. The Rococo-style altar pieces came from various monastery churches, while the confessionals originated from the Franciscan monastery church in Lechenich. A baroque crucifixion group from the former Cistercian monastery in Burbach and a baroque statue of Mary with Child from the Marienborn monastery were also notable features.

The End of Its Role as a Parish Church

As the population of Hürth grew, St. Katharina could no longer accommodate the increasing number of worshippers. Due to its age, expansion was not feasible, leading to the construction of a larger church in 1894-95. Consequently, St. Katharina was deconsecrated and fell into disrepair. In 1914, the Hiltruper Sisters transformed the old church into a convent, adding an intermediate floor to the nave, separating the choir and nave with a staircase, and replacing the high windows with smaller ones on the two new floors. The roof structure was renewed, and modifications were made on the north side.

Modern Uses

After the sisters left, Alt St. Katharina served various purposes, including a kindergarten, sewing school, city archive, medical center, and dialysis center. Since 2007, it has housed the private music school Auftakt, which, in collaboration with the Hürth registry office, offers civil wedding ceremonies in its concert hall or chapel. The concert hall also hosts regular concerts featuring a wide range of musical genres, from jazz to baroque, often with free admission.

Despite its diverse uses, the building is still affectionately known as Alt St. Katharina. Together with the adjacent old rectory and garden house, it forms a focal point in the town. From the viewpoint at the Hochkreuz on the Hürtherberg, the striking old parish church stands out, its whitewashed walls and sturdy, square tower with a baroque dome and weather vane creating a picturesque scene.

Alt St. Katharina is more than just a historical monument; it is a symbol of Hürth's enduring heritage and community spirit. Its walls echo the stories of centuries past, making it an unmissable attraction for anyone visiting this charming town.