Pfarrkirche

The Pfarrkirche, known locally as St. Johannes, stands proudly in the heart of Kitzingen, Bavaria. This Roman Catholic parish church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is not just a place of worship but a remarkable piece of late Gothic architecture that has withstood the test of time. As the oldest surviving building in Kitzingen, the Pfarrkirche is a testament to the town's rich history and religious heritage.

The Early Beginnings

The history of the Pfarrkirche dates back to the early 12th century when the first mention of an independent parish in Kitzingen was recorded. This was a time of disputes over tithes between the parish priest and the abbess Bertha II of Ebenhausen. By 1394, the parish was officially incorporated into the Benedictine convent of Kitzingen, which had already been in existence for nearly 400 years. The convent held the right to appoint the parish priest and maintain the church.

Construction and Architectural Marvels

The construction of the current Pfarrkirche began in 1402 on the foundations of an earlier structure, about which little is known. The only master builder whose name has survived is Heinrich Sommer, a stonemason and master craftsman who passed away in 1462 and is believed to be buried in the church. Financial difficulties often interrupted the construction, but under the leadership of Abbess Margaretha II of Erbach, the church was finally completed between 1460 and 1463. The consecration of the church took place in 1487 by the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Rudolf von Scherenberg. This significant year is inscribed on the south gallery and one of the exterior pillars.

Reformation and Counter-Reformation

The Pfarrkirche played a crucial role during the Reformation. The first Protestant sermon was delivered here in 1530, marking the beginning of the Reformation in Kitzingen. For nearly a century, the church served as a Lutheran place of worship until 1629, when the town was re-Catholicized following the redemption of the pawn by Brandenburg-Ansbach to the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg. This period also saw the baroque transformation of the church's interior, which had lost much of its original furnishings during the Reformation and the Peasants' War.

18th and 19th Century Transformations

The 18th century brought another wave of changes to the interior of the Pfarrkirche, this time in the early classicist style. The only remaining piece from this period is the pulpit. In the 19th century, the church underwent a neo-Gothic renovation, which included the removal of the grand baroque high altar from 1667 that had obscured the three eastern windows. The altarpiece by Flemish painter Johann Baptist de Ruel, which once adorned this altar, now hangs on the east wall of the tower in the northern aisle. Additionally, the church was repainted in a neo-Gothic style, covering remnants of the original wall paintings.

20th Century Developments

In 1901, a fire destroyed the tower's dome, which was temporarily replaced before being reconstructed in its original form three years later. This period also saw a necessary exterior renovation led by Nuremberg architect Josef Schmitz, known for his work on Nuremberg's St. Sebald and St. Lorenz churches. Schmitz's careful approach ensured that newer additions were identifiable, preserving the church's historical integrity.

Remarkably, the Pfarrkirche survived the devastating bombing raid on February 23, 1945, which destroyed much of Kitzingen's old town. Post-Vatican II, the church underwent several altar area modifications, with a harmonious redesign completed in 1994 that balanced elements from various periods.

The Discovery of the Three Kings Group

During the 1994 renovation, three Gothic sandstone figures were discovered in the floor of the baptistery. These figures, a Madonna (missing the Christ Child) and two kings, were part of a Three Kings group dating from 1350 to 1380. This extraordinary find garnered significant attention in the academic world. The figures, likely created by an external artist, show connections to the Nuremberg Parler school or the Cologne Cathedral workshop. Currently housed in the Museum am Dom in Würzburg, there are ongoing discussions about returning them to the Pfarrkirche.

Architectural Highlights

The Pfarrkirche is a late Gothic hall church with a recessed polygonal choir. The exterior features robust buttresses and intricate tracery windows, including two uncommon rose windows on the south side. The asymmetrical design results from the tower's northwest location, shortening the northern aisle to five bays while the southern aisle and nave each have eight. The slightly southward-angled, three-bay choir adds to the building's unique character.

Notable exterior elements include a late 15th-century Mount of Olives scene attributed to the Riemenschneider school and two stair towers providing access to the gallery and roof. The interior is a stepped hall type, with the southern aisle divided into two levels by a masonry gallery added in the late 15th century to increase capacity. The parallel rib vaulting in the nave and aisles, developed in Prague's St. Vitus Cathedral, enhances the church's grandeur.

The Pfarrkirche, with its rich history and architectural splendor, is a must-visit for anyone exploring Kitzingen. Whether you're a history enthusiast, an architecture aficionado, or a curious traveler, this church offers a captivating glimpse into the past and a serene space for reflection.