Church of the Visitation of Mary

The Church of the Visitation of Mary, locally known as St. Mariä Heimsuchung, stands as a beacon of history and faith in the charming district of Mülldorf in Sankt Augustin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. This Roman Catholic parish church, a part of the Archdiocese of Cologne, is not only a place of worship but also a significant historical monument, having been consecrated in 1938. The church is a testament to resilience and faith, being one of the last churches in Germany whose construction was authorized during the Third Reich.

The Historical Journey

The roots of the Church of the Visitation of Mary trace back to the Christianization of the area, initially being part of the parish of St. Martinus in Niederpleis. The first recorded mention of a chapel in Mülldorf dates to 1582, connected to an estate existing since 1071. However, remnants of walls, two altar stones, and a weathercock discovered after a flood in 1635 suggest an even earlier ecclesiastical presence.

In 1705, the foundation stone for the first Chapel of the Visitation of Mary was laid by Pastor Gabriel Blum of Niederpleis, and the chapel was consecrated on July 2, 1710. Following the secularization in 1803, many relics from the dissolved Siegburg Abbey were transferred to the church community. The original chapel was replaced in 1872 by a new structure on the same site. The church gained independence from Niederpleis in 1920, becoming its own parish under Archbishop Karl Joseph Cardinal Schulte.

The New Church

By the 1930s, the existing chapel could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. In 1936, Pastor Gottfried Salz initiated plans for a new church. Despite initial bureaucratic hurdles, including the need to repurpose a youth center as an air-raid shelter to gain approval, construction began in 1938. The foundation stone was laid on May 22, and the church was consecrated on December 18, 1938, by Auxiliary Bishop Wilhelm Stockums. The old chapel was subsequently demolished.

Remarkably, the church and the surrounding area suffered minimal damage during World War II, largely due to Pastor Salz's efforts, who prevented the German soldiers from destroying the local monastery and facilitated a peaceful entry of American troops into the town.

Architectural Features

The Church of the Visitation of Mary exemplifies a basilica-style structure. Originally built with plain brickwork, it received its current light-colored exterior plaster in 1955. The north-east-facing tower, with its hipped roof, features two transverse structures with gable roofs. A striking sgraffito depicting the Visitation of Mary adorns the tower facade beneath the sound openings, accompanied by a beautifully crafted rose window above the entrance.

Inside, the lower levels of the tower open into the nave. The ground floor houses a side chapel, while the upper level features an organ gallery with an organ built by Eggert Orgelbau-Anstalt Anton Feith in 1962. The chancel is illuminated by two round choir windows, installed in 1959, in soft pastel hues. The entire building rests on a rubble stone base, with corners accentuated by irregular, human-sized corner ashlars. The floor, made of Weidenhahner trachyte, was renovated in 1983.

Interior and Artifacts

The church's interior is adorned with a powerful wooden crucifixion group, featuring a 2.38-meter-tall corpus, with figures of Mary and John added in 1956. The tabernacle beneath the cross symbolizes the burning bush with its thorn and enamel flame decorations. The altar and ambo, redesigned in 1976, were consecrated by Abbot Placidus Mittler. The altar's base is a large tuff stone block, with a tuff stone tabletop featuring a source motif sculpted by Hans Rams in 1983. The right side altar houses a statue of St. Joseph, while a corresponding statue of Mary was added in 1955.

The main portal, created by Hans Rams in 1988, depicts the risen Christ. The inner side of the portal artistically represents the fourteen works of mercy. A bronze stele, installed in 1995, depicts Mary with her cousin Elizabeth, symbolizing the church's patronage.

Many artifacts were acquired from the Steyler Missionaries' mission house in 1941, including statues of St. Augustine, St. Gregory I, and St. Nicholas. The church also houses a gothic wooden figure of the Risen Christ from Schloss Birlinghoven, a 17th-century Madonna with Child, and an icon of Perpetual Help from the old Mülldorf chapel. Outside, a wooden Marterl Cross and a ceramic sculpture of the Immaculate Conception adorn the grounds.

The Bells

The church's bell tower resonates with the Gloria motif. The smallest of the three bells dates back to the church's construction and was cast in bronze by the Otto bell foundry in Hemelingen. The two larger bells, destroyed during World War II, were replaced in 1949 with cast steel bells from the Bochum Association for Cast Steel Fabrication.

The Church of the Visitation of Mary is not just a place of worship but a historical landmark that has withstood the test of time, embodying the spirit and resilience of its community. Visitors are drawn not only to its spiritual offerings but also to its rich history and architectural beauty, making it a must-visit destination in Sankt Augustin.