St. Eligius

St. Eligius Church in Völklingen, Saarland, Germany, is a magnificent example of architectural brilliance and historical significance. Nestled in the heart of Völklingen, this Roman Catholic parish church is dedicated to St. Eligius, the patron saint of metalworkers—a fitting dedication given the town's rich industrial heritage, particularly with the Völklinger Hütte, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Historical Journey of St. Eligius Church

The story of St. Eligius Church begins in the mid-19th century. The original church was constructed between 1845 and 1848, based on the designs of the Trier government architect Hoff. This initial structure was a late classical hall church with a west tower and two small gabled vestibules. It was consecrated on October 9, 1853, and served the growing Catholic community of Völklingen for several decades.

However, by the early 20th century, the rapid population growth in Völklingen necessitated a larger church. In 1908, a limited architectural competition was held for a new design. The winning plans, created by Mainz architects Ludwig Becker and Anton Falkowski, led to the demolition of the original building in 1912. The new St. Eligius Church was completed and consecrated on July 6, 1913, with construction costs amounting to 307,000 marks, significantly exceeding the initial budget estimate.

Throughout the years, the church has undergone several restorations. The interior was restored between 1972 and 1974 by Heinrich Otto Vogel, a Trier architect. The windows were restored from 1987 to 1989, and in 2005, exterior lighting was installed as part of the Masterplan Light project, executed by Andreas Thiel and Peter Schütz from the Saarbrücken Office for Lighting Design. Further restoration efforts took place in 2010 and 2011, ensuring that the church remains a well-preserved historical monument.

Architectural Marvels

The current St. Eligius Church is a three-aisled stepped hall built in the neo-Baroque and neo-classical styles with elements of Art Nouveau. The design features a three-bay nave with square pillars and pilasters, leading to a two-bay transept. The spacious, barrel-vaulted central nave extends uninterrupted from the fore-choir bay to the chancel wall, creating a sense of grandeur and openness.

The interior decoration is reminiscent of classicism, with imaginative combinations of small cartouches, volutes, and Ionic cymatia adorning the capital zones of the pillars and pilasters. The belt and partition arches, along with the chancel arch, are coffered, with the coffered fields filled with four-petaled flowers. Art Nouveau influences are evident in the female head reliefs on the organ gallery's balustrade.

The church's main façade is dominated by its imposing tower, which is divided into three sections by wide pilasters. The ground floor opens into an open vestibule with a balcony, flanked by double columns and pilasters. The middle portal has been modernized with glass blocks. The columns, balcony entablature, and balustrade are adorned with Art Nouveau details, including fluted sleeves, leaf capitals, block friezes, coffered panels, and flowers. Sculptures of the Evangelist symbols rest on balustrade bases above the column positions. The tower's upper section features a block-like design with pilasters, a central area with a clock, and angel reliefs on either side. The tower roof incorporates a statue of St. Eligius in bishop's attire, set within a Palladian motif niche, leading to an octagonal central spire topped with an intricate lantern structure.

Artistic and Cultural Treasures

St. Eligius Church is home to several artistic treasures. In 1979, sculptor Inge Andler-Laurenz created the life-sized Mother and Child fountain sculpture in the church's garden. A wall painting of St. Francis by sculptor Nikoloz Bakhia, completed in 1999, adds to the church's artistic heritage. The church's interior features five splendid altars from the original construction period, a St. Eligius statue from around 1750 in France, and statues of St. Barbara and St. Wendalinus.

The Munich painter Franz Michael Ronge (1853–1925) created the altar paintings and Stations of the Cross. His works include the Immaculata Conceptio after Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, the Sacred Heart painting based on Ludwig Glötzle, and thirteen Stations of the Cross inspired by 18th-century Italian copper engravings from the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The 14th Station, the Entombment, is incorporated into the high altar as the Holy Sepulchre. Ronge also painted the large high altar image of the Crucifixion of Jesus in 1922.

The organ gallery's balustrade features reliefs of King David with a harp (left) and St. Cecilia with a portative organ (right) in canopy niches.

The Magnificent Organ

The church's organ, built in 1925 by the Stahlhut company of Aachen, is one of the few surviving German Romantic organs in Saarland. It underwent a comprehensive renovation in 1982 by Klais Orgelbau of Bonn, replacing the pneumatic cone chests with mechanical slider chests while retaining the 1925 disposition and adding eight registers. The instrument, which now has 53 registers across three manuals and a pedal, was further overhauled in 2012, including the addition of a 32' sub-bass in the pedal.

The Bells of St. Eligius

In 1954, the Saarlouis bell foundry cast six bronze bells for St. Eligius, creating the most beautiful bell ensemble in Völklingen. The large steel bell frame and yokes have remained since the initial installation. The full peal rings out on major church holidays and special occasions, with the large bell used for solo pre-service ringing or as a signal bell for funerals and other significant events.

St. Eligius Church in Völklingen is not just a place of worship; it is a testament to the town's rich history and cultural heritage. Its architectural splendor, artistic treasures, and historical significance make it a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the Saarland region.