St. Bernward's Church, Hildesheim

St. Bernward is a Catholic church in the city of Hildesheim. It is named after St.. Bernward (* 960, † 1022), who was Bishop of Hildesheim 993-1022 and one of the most important bishops of the diocese of Hildesheim.

Location

St. Bernward rises in the northern part of downtown Hildesheim on the link road 19, corner of Bishop -Janssen -Straße.

History

The strong growth of population in Hildesheim during the founding period also made the construction of additional church buildings required. As early as 1896 Bishop Wilhelm reserved Sommerwerck the sum of 35,000 marks which he had been given on the occasion of his golden jubilee of priestly ordination, for the construction of St. Bernward 's Church in Hildesheim - about a third of the later construction costs.

St. Bernward was built in 1905-07, designed by cathedral architect Richard Herzig ( 1851-1934 ), who built the same time as St. Elizabeth in the Oststadt. After Herzig plans 43 churches were built in 1885-1913 in the diocese of Hildesheim. The Consecration of the built in Romanesque Revival style church building took place on November 3, 1907 by Bishop Adolf Bertram. On September 1, 1917, the establishment of the parish of St. Bernward followed.

An air raid on Hildesheim on February 22, 1945 St. Bernward was severely damaged: the vault of the western side of the ship, all the windows and the roof were destroyed. Because of the danger of collapse, the church had to be closed. On March 22, 1945 St. Bernward was in the heaviest air raid on Hildesheim again hit by high explosive and incendiary bombs and now completely destroyed, only the outer walls and part of the tower remained standing.

Reconstruction began in November 1948, and as early as August 15, 1949, the church could be used again. Here negotiated church council and community to the planning of the Diocese of line, because St. Bernward had lost most of his parish area in the northern city through the construction of St. John the Evangelist and located the other hand, in close proximity to the historic Catholic churches in the city. St. Bernward was the first of the destroyed Catholic churches of Hildesheim, which could be used again for worship. The Neuweihe was performed by Bishop Joseph Godehard making.

Since 1 August 2004, the church belongs to the parish " Holy Cross ", St. Bernward community was dissolved in this context.

Architecture

During the construction of the church from natural stone blocks in 1905-07 as well as in the reconstruction of 1948/49, the Romanesque west part of St. Andrew and the west work of Hildesheim cathedral served as a model. This was with the period of Bernward church nor its neo-Romanesque twin-tower front. Only since the reconstruction Hildesheim has two mutually so strongly resembling churches in close proximity.

In contrast to the medieval churches of St. Bernward of Hildesheim is not oriented to the east because of the blank of the elongated plot: Choir and altar in the North.

Equipment

St. Bernward houses an important medieval altarpiece. It comes from the Hildesheim Trinity Hospital and was established 1430. In a sober garb it shows full carved statues of various saints. The center is a representation of the Coronation of the Virgin by Christ.