St. James's Church, Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The Evangelical-Lutheran parish church of St. Jakob in Rothenburg ob der Tauber was built in 1311-1484. Here, the east chancel was completed in 1322, after a Baupause the nave 1373-1436 was built. The one road bridging the west choir with the Holy Blood Chapel was built in 1453-1471. The consecration took place 1485. 1544 the Reformation was introduced. Between 2005 and 2011 the church was extensively renovated. The cost of the overall project amount to approximately 9 million euros.
What is striking about the simple act of foreign Gothic church, that it has two different high towers ( South Tower: 55.2 m, north tower 57.7 m). The tracery of the east choir are adorned with very valuable paintings, originate the oldest dating back to 1350, more from the 1400.
Altars
Holy Blood Altar
This important church is located on the west gallery, the famous Holy Blood Altar of Würzburg carver Tilman Riemenschneider, he has carved 1500-1505 for a Holy Blood relic. This relic is kept in the conversation tightness in a rock crystal capsule relics of the Cross (ca. 1270). In the Holy Blood relic it should be a spilled during the sacrament of the cup drop, which was by the conversion to the blood of Christ.
1499 the case was commissioned by the city of Rothenburg at Erhart Harscher Council in order. The agreement with Tilman Riemenschneider for the sculptural decor is dated 15 April 1501. On May 8, 1502 of the shrine was erected in the west choir of Saint James' Church, together with the relics of the cross. The figures were completed by January 1505.
Threads of the figurative embodiment are the Entry into Jerusalem ( heraldic right wing), the Lord's Supper ( shrine ) and the Mount of Olives ( heraldic left wing). The innovative aspect was not only the magnificent carving of the master, but also the monochrome version, and the design of the altarpiece as a permanent, unchanging showpiece ( the blades are not designed on the weekday pages). The broken shrine and the refined elaboration relief combine with a revolutionary dramatic lighting, such as had not been known before.
The central figure is Judas, not, as usual, Jesus himself Judas and Jesus also have an amazing similarity in the facial features. The figure of Judas can be taken out of the picture and covers the gap between the two blocks relief of the shrine. Only when taking out the figure of Judas the apostle John is behind it fully visible; This has laid his head on his arms and sleeps.
Holy Blood Altar Detail: Christ's Entry into Jerusalem
Holy Blood Altar Detail: Last Supper
Holy Blood Altar Detail: Prayer of Christ on the Mount of Olives
Twelve - messenger altar
The main altar of the church of the Twelve messenger altar from 1466th The late Gothic winged altar contains a carved Crucifixion and Saints group and is in the east choir of the church. In addition to the wings and the predella of the altar on the outer sides and the back is painted. The pictures of the altar came from Frederick Herlin, the plastic image works well from the Ulm school under the influence of Hans Mult Schers. The altar body was made by the carpenter Hans Waidenlich, who had already created along with Herlin 1462 the high altar of the church of St. George Nördlinger. On the back of the wings (Weekdays page ), the oldest representation of the city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber and very rare picture Legends of Jacob pilgrims to see that are related to the James legend. The design follows the pattern of the Nördlinger altar which was probably designed by Nicholas Eseler the Elder.
The good condition of the altar inside is probably due also to the fact that he was kept closed after the Reformation over a longer period. Since the now visible representations appeared to James Catholic, they were repainted in 1582 by the painter Martin Greulich with scenes from the Passion of Christ. Only the two backgrounds of the two middle images, one of which shows the Rothenburg's market square remained untouched. The paintings were restored in 1922 and returned to the original state.
More altars
Other gems in the church are the Ludwig von Toulouse Altar by Tilman Riemenschneider with Jacob Mülholzer ascribed wings, and the Mary Coronation altar ( using paintings from different centuries, including the Riemenschneider - school).
Great organ
The great organ of Saint Jacob was built by the famous Austrian organ builder Rieger (Vorarlberg) and has 69 stops on four manuals and pedal. The organ has two sides and prospectus can also be played by two tables. It has about 5,500 pipes and is one of the greatest organ works in Bavaria. The instrument has grinding shop. The Spieltrakturen are mechanical, the Registertrakturen are electric.
- Couplers: I / II, III / II, IV / II, I / P, II / P III / P
- Accessories: Tutti, 8 -fold combination system, Crescendowalze.
Here is a sound sample, which was recorded in August 2008 at one of the regular organ demonstrations. It does Matthias Flierl ( Bechhofen / Lübeck ).
Louis Vierne: Carillon de Westminster 6.76 MB / i?
Renovation of the church
After the church was renovated at the beginning of the 20th century, the last time after a good hundred years a new, complete renovation of the entire building was necessary. For this reason, began with the restoration of the northern spire 2005. 2011, for the 700th anniversary celebrations of the Church, the restoration was completed. Since the cost of this project amounted to several million euros, the project was " Jacob is" launched. This project attempts to collect donations and revenues that are generated by the sale of souvenirs money to finance the construction costs.