St. Peter's Church, Rostock

The St. Peter's Church is the oldest and 117.0 m, the highest of the four existing churches city of Rostock. The others are or were St. Mary's Church, St. Nicholas Church and destroyed in the Second World War and in 1960 finally worn Jakobikirche. Like the other churches mentioned it belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran church downtown Rostock Rostock in the provost's church circle Mecklenburg, Evangelical Lutheran church in northern Germany.

Architectural History

First Church

Already in 1300 a church building was on the site of the present St. Peter's Church built ( the earliest known documentary evidence dates back to 1252. ) It was a three-nave building, the stones were dark red to purple, and its walls were partly of granite. Portions of this first phase are obtained or until the fighter of the two side aisles. The tower was probably a cross or double tower, after which let the wall remains close to the south tower.

Second Church

In the mid-14th century the church was built as a three-aisled basilica in the typical for Northern Europe in the Baltic region of construction ( brick Gothic ) instead of the previous building.

She received in 1500 an approximately 127 meter high tower, which was already destroyed by lightning in 1543, in which the remaining Catholics in Rostock saw a punishment from God. Until 1578, the tower was built with spire again, after he had in the meantime been partly destroyed by effect of storms again. By then reached height of 117 m, it also served as an orientation mark of the lake as of land. In the following centuries, bad weather left their mark, which led to an extensive renovation of the Basilica in 1902.

In the four-day attack of the British Air Force in late April 1942, the St. Peter's Church has been hit hard in the night of 26 to 27 April 1942. The studded with copper spire burnt, the organ of the Baroque altar, the Renaissance pulpit and the only Epitaph were a prey to the flames. Could, however, the medieval bronze Tauffünte of A. Ribe 1512 are saved, just as a Way of the Cross Relief Christ before Pilate. While the vault of the nave and the south aisle collapsed, the vault of the north aisle was preserved. In the course of a very tentative reconstruction of the tower was secured with a temporary roof and the nave with a flat wooden ceiling closed, which reaches a height of 24 meters. In addition, the arcades were walled up between the central and the side aisles and the walls of the nave whitewashed. The spire was initially not rebuilt.

1994 was by the State, the City and funds from fundraising and conservation organizations again a copper- shod spire will put in the context of urban development, so that St. Peter is seen widely as Rostock landmark again. In addition, in 45 m height over a 195 narrow stairs or an elevator to reach the viewing platform was built, affording sweeping views of the city Rostock away on a clear day to Warnemünde and the Baltic Sea.

Specifications

It is a three-aisled basilica with four yokes, completed by the west tower with its high spire. On the north and south facades are 4 x are alternating each one arch - blind arcade 1 large rectangular windows, each 3 high arched blind arcades except on the east side where the tower meets the middle floor of the tower of the basilica, about on all four sides of each 3 arched windows.

The chancel is polygonal; on the north and south sides of each is a small pinnacle with spire.

The two-zone inner wall elevation points in the basement on blind arches in Romanesque- Gothic transition style. The open before the war destruction arcades were walled up only during renovation. In the light enters through the large rectangular windows. The groined vault above the north aisle is obtained. The south aisle but was too badly damaged to restore the original design. Also in the nave has been waived reconstruction.

The 17 meter high colored stained glass windows depicting scenes from the life of St. Peter were designed in the early 1960s by the local artist Lothar Mannewitz ( 1930-2004 ).