Simultaneum

The term interdenominational church, also called Simultaneum or parity church marks a shared by several Christian denominations in confessional parity sacred building. The services are generally held separately, a mixed worship is at best exceptionally practiced. On a smaller scale, for example, hospital chapels are often used in such a manner.

History

The first interdenominational church during and after the Reformation was probably the church of St. Peter at Bautzen. Here already the church house was divided in 1524, the nave, sacristy and organ loft were since evangelical, the chorus and the first gallery were used by the Roman Catholics.

In the Palatinate the Simultaneum was introduced on October 29, 1698 by the authorities. The Reformed had their churches for the Catholic church open, but the Catholics maintained their churches alone. Overall, the Catholics gained a shared right of 240 churches. In many places the larger denomination paid in 1900 a sum of money to the smaller ones, so that they could thus build their own church or chapel. The Simultaneum in the Palatinate was repealed as part of the Palatine church division by decree of 29 March 1707. Quite often were simultaneous or parity churches in the Confederation, in particular in the Abbey of St. Gallen, Glarus and in the Catholic and Reformed places co-managed subjects areas.

Simultaneous churches

The 65 simultaneous churches in Germany spread across nine states and twelve regional churches or 18 dioceses. Most Simultaneous churches there with 29 in Rhineland -Palatinate (equivalent to 44.62 % of all simultaneous churches in Germany ), followed by Bayern with 19 churches ( 29.23 %). Baden- Württemberg and Lower Saxony have four churches simultaneously used. In North Rhine -Westphalia there are three, in Hesse and Saxony -Anhalt, two, and one each in the Saarland and Saxony.

More simultaneous churches:

  • Approximately 50 churches in Alsace
  • Several churches in the cantons of Thurgau and St. Gallen, for example Ermatingen, Güttingen and Sommeri
  • Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
  • Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

Former simultaneous churches

The following list contains only the former churches outside Germany.

In Switzerland, especially in the canton of Thurgau, numerous churches were parity during the 20th century resolved by either one of the two communities ( most of the Roman Catholic ) for carving out a new church, or was canceled by the old and both each built a new, including:

  • Margaret Church in Gebenstorf Gebenstorf, Switzerland
  • City Church of Glarus (1866-1964), Switzerland
  • Joint Church in Birmenstorf AG, Switzerland

Other former parity churches in Canton Thurgau Huettwilen, Weinfelden, ...

Cathedral of St Peter, Bautzen Protestant Reformation Landeskirche Bavaria Stadtkirche Glarus
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