St. Andreaskirche, Hildesheim
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The St Andreas Church is one of the main churches of Hildesheim, Germany. Its tower is 114.5 m tall, making it the tallest church tower in Lower Saxony; it is accessible (364 steps) and offers a panoramic view of both the city and surrounding countryside.
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[edit] History
The earliest church building on the Treibeinsel named for the Apostle Andreas (Andrew) was a simple pre-romanesque chapel, which already existed at the death of Bishop Bernward in 1022. Bishop Godehard was brought here after his death in 1038 so the people could mourn.
During the romanesque period, the center of the market and workshops was relocated from the swampy lowlands between Domburg and Michaeliskriche ("Old Market") to near St. Andreas. The chapel was subsequently replaced with a romanesque church with a strong westwork.
The building of the gothic church, in the basilica style and romanesque westwork, was begun at the end of the fourteenth century, the choir in 1389, the northern nave in 1404, and the tower in 1503. By 1504, the nave with its side altars was finished and all that remained to be completed was the tower. This was only done in 1883, when the tower reached its current height. The interior, with the quire and the radiating side chapels to the east, was modeled after the French cathedrals.
Like market churches in many other German dioceses, St. Andreas represented bourgeois self-confidence in the High Middle Ages in comparison to the lordship of the Bishops, manifested in the cathedral. During the Reformation, this old question of authority was combined with the religious question. Consequently, in 1542, St. Andreas became the first church in Hildesheim to support Lutheranism; it was also there where Johannes Bugenhagen initiated the new church order. This is remembered in the 1995 Brunnen Memorial by Ulrich Henn, which is located in the southern of forecourt the church.
The church burned down during the Second World War, and only the ruined outer wall remained standing. In the 1950s, St. Andreas was completely rebuilt as an almost exact copy of the original.
[edit] Organ
The basilica houses what is thought to be the largest organ in Northern Germany, created by the Beckerath Company[citation needed]. It has 63 registers and 4734 pipes, which fill the church with an unusually loud volume of sound. Additionally, it is regarded as one of the most beautiful organs in the region. Organ and choir concerts are regularly held at the church.
[edit] Bells
In the tower hand four bells from 1725, 1738, 1632, and 1963:
- 1963: 6.5 t 2.15 m diameter
- 1632: 3.0 t 1.75 m diameter
- 1738: 1.5 t 1.36 m diameter
- 1725: 1.3 t 1.22 m diameter
[edit] Measurements
The church's dimensions are remarkable. They attest to the prosperity and self-confidence of the Hildesheim citizens. St. Andreas is with its 114.5 m tower one of the tallest churches of the world.
- Length: 80 m
- Width: 35 m
- Height: 27 m
- Tower: 114.5 m
[edit] References
- The information in this article is based on that in its German equivalent.
[edit] External links
- (German) St. Andreaskirche
