St. Walburga

In the heart of Werl, a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, stands the magnificent St. Walburga Church, a testament to the region's rich historical and architectural heritage. This Gothic hall church, built in the 14th century, boasts a towering 62-meter high late Romanesque tower capped with a baroque dome. Constructed from local green sandstone, St. Walburga Church is not just a place of worship but a symbol of the town's enduring spirit and historical significance.

The Origins of St. Walburga Church

The history of St. Walburga Church is as fascinating as its architecture. Archaeological excavations in 1967 unearthed remnants of an Ottonian flat-roofed apsidal hall with low transepts beneath the current church. This early structure, built around 950, was unusually large for its time and place, suggesting it served more than just the local count's family. The church was subsequently demolished around 1150 for unknown reasons. In 1196, Counts Gottfried and Hermann gifted the church to the Premonstratensian monastery of Wedinghausen, a donation confirmed by Pope Celestine II. The monastery provided the parish priest and two chaplains, with the abbot acting as the archdeacon of Werl.

The Gothic Transformation

The construction of the present Gothic hall church began between 1330 and 1370, starting with the western side aisle walls. The church's eastern parts and choir were built in the latter half of the 14th century. The windows in the choir, designed by Benedictine brother Notker Becker, depict the risen Christ, Mary, and John the Baptist. The oak roof truss, completed around 1391, remains intact to this day. The three-aisled Gothic hall church features a five-bay nave and a six-bay side aisle, with the choir consisting of a single bay with a 3/8 closure. The cross-ribbed vaults are adorned with sculpted keystones, and the free-standing pillars have a round core with four three-quarter columns. The wall services are semi-circular or three-quarter round in cross-section, while those in the choir bay are composed of pear-shaped bundles and are capital-less.

A Blend of Styles

One of the most striking features of St. Walburga Church is its blend of architectural styles. The Romanesque tower, added in the 12th century, was later crowned with a baroque dome between 1733 and 1736 by master builder Michael Moser and carpenter Caspar Nölle. The neo-Romanesque west facade was constructed between 1893 and 1897. The exterior is characterized by stepped buttresses, a continuous base cornice, and two- to four-lane windows, the latest of which were completed around 1420. The richly profiled jambs of the four Gothic entrances (one of which is walled up) feature ornate arch fields with blind tracery. The church underwent extensive renovations from 1972 to 1983 and again in 1988, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

The Interior Treasures

While much of the original Gothic interior was lost during iconoclasm, St. Walburga Church still houses several significant artifacts. The church's rich and unified furnishings, acquired after the return of the old Catholic order in 1590, significantly shape the spatial impression.

The Judicial Seat

One of the unique features of St. Walburga Church is the judicial seat of the Officialate Court for the Duchy of Westphalia, dating back to 1725. This court, the highest ecclesiastical court, was moved from Soest to Werl between 1478 and 1483 by the Cologne Elector and Archbishop Clemens August of Wittelsbach. The court remained in Werl until 1802. The judicial seat, adorned with the coats of arms of Archbishop Clemens August and Official Johann Dettmar von Mellin, is a testament to the church's historical significance. The carvings on the fence and judge's seats symbolically reference judicial proceedings and the cardinal virtues of temperance, strength, justice, and prudence.

The Altars

The church's altars are equally impressive. The high altar features a painted winged altarpiece from around 1600, signed by Johann tom Ring. The panels depict scenes from the childhood of Jesus, including the Annunciation, the Visitation, Christmas, and the Presentation in the Temple, with the central image showing the Adoration of the Magi.

The Holy Cross and the Ziborium Altar

St. Walburga Church was once a revered pilgrimage site, known for the Holy Cross of Werl, a central relic believed to have miraculous powers. The cross, first documented in 1370, was destroyed in 1583 during the Truchsessian War but was rediscovered in 1938 and restored in 1953. It now stands on the remarkable Ziborium altar, built from sandstone at the end of the 14th century. The altar's ornate design, featuring large profiled arches, an octagonal structure adorned with finials and crockets, and wrought-iron grilles with lily bands, is a sight to behold.

The Erbsälzer Altar

The Erbsälzer Altar, dedicated to the Holy Mary, Archangel Michael, and Saints Catherine and Cecilia, was originally donated in 1485 and replaced in 1594. The altar's predella, adorned with family coats of arms, features a relief of the crucified Christ flanked by representatives of the New and Old Covenants. The rich pediment bears the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation with the double-headed eagle and a figure of Christ with the globe above.

St. Walburga Church is not just a place of worship; it is a living museum of history, art, and architecture. Its walls and artifacts tell the story of a community's faith, resilience, and dedication over centuries. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an architecture aficionado, or a curious traveler, a visit to St. Walburga Church in Werl is a journey through time that you will not soon forget.