Alte St. Alexander Kirche - Wallenhorst

Date: About 0800
Location: Wallenhorst, Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany
Surname/tag: wallenhorst

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Architectural History 3 Current State and Use 4 The Landmark: The Golden Hen 5 The Church Paths 5.1 Hollage 5.2 Lechtingen 5.3 Pye 5.4 Schleptrup 6 Inscriptions 6.1 Side Door 6.2 Church Pews 6.3 Cemetery 6.4 WikiTree Stuff 6.4.1 Church Image on WikiTree Profiles 6.4.2 Categories 7 Sources

Introduction

In the village of Wallenhorst, you can find the following two church buildings:

• The Alte St. Alexander church, which legend has it was founded by Charles Carolingian (abt.0748-0814), and
• The new St. Alexander Church, which was built between 1878 and 1881.

Alte St. Alexander Kirche, Wallenhorst

This Wikitree free space page covers the first church building.

To get a first visual impression of the Alte St. Alexander church in Wallenhorst, you can take a look at the video with a drone flight over St. Alexander.

Due to the church's old age, written records about the time and reason for the construction of the Alte St. Alexander church are difficult to find. The church is mentioned in old legends of the Osnabrück region and is dated to the time of Widukind (Sachsen) von Westfalen (0755-0810) and Charles Carolingian (abt.0748-0814). TheAlte St. Alexander church in Wallenhorst was a subsidiary church of the cathedral parish of Osnabrück and is believed to have been built as a proprietary church on a manor of the family of the Saxon duke Widukind (Sachsen) von Westfalen (0755-0810). St. Alexander Wallenhorst was first mentioned in a document in 1312.

Architectural History

The history of the Alte St. Alexander church has been discussed in various publications, such as in 1858 by Meyer^[1], in 1858 by W. Richard^[2], in 1861 by C.W. Hase^[3], in 1879 by H. W. H. Mithoff^[4], in 1926^[5], and in 1928^[6] by Wilhelm Jänecke, and in 1976 by K. Müller^[7].

These publications do not agree on the exact history of the construction. The church is believed to date back to the time of Widukind (Sachsen) von Westfalen (0755-0810) and Charles Carolingian (abt.0748-0814) and was originally made of wood. In 1479, the church was mentioned as a stone church for the first time, indicating that the original wooden structure was later replaced by a stone one. The Alte St. Alexander church has undergone various renovations and alterations throughout the centuries.

According to Müller^[7], it is presented as follows:

• Around 800, an elongated hall church was constructed on very narrow and shallow foundations. This stone-built hall church had a width of 7.10 meters and a length of 16.35 meters. It was built in the western part of a larger boulder framework that dated back to the time before 800 and may have served as a Saxon community site for wooden structures.
• In the 9th and 10th centuries, the hall church was superseded by a larger and taller basilical church.
• In the 11th century, a pillar basilica with a timber ceiling in the nave and Romanesque cross vaults in the side aisles was constructed.
• Around 1150, the side aisles were raised, and they were equipped with Romanesque cross vaults.
• Around 1250, a clerestory with a vault was added to the nave.
• St. Alexander was first mentioned in a document in 1312.
• In the 14th and 15th centuries, it was converted into a Gothic hall church.
• After the fortified west tower around 1500, and in 1692, a sacristy was built on the northeast side of the church, and in the final construction phase in the years 1766/67, a comprehensive renovation took place. The aim was to improve the interior lighting. *Additionally, the south side of the church's western aisle received a new large side door.
• In 1968, the church was restored externally, and in 1976, the interior was renovated, the floor was replaced, heating was installed, and the clock mechanism in the tower was repaired. Since then, the church has been used for religious services.
• 2001: The windows in the sanctuary, designed by Albert Bocklage from Vechta, were renovated.
• 2017: The church's organ was extensively restored through donations from the church community.
• 2018: The church square was redesigned.

From the 12th-century basilica, most of the small round-arched side aisle windows have been preserved. Additionally, the pillars and the beginnings of Romanesque cross vaults in the northern side aisle also date from that time.

Current State and Use

In recent times, the Alte St. Alexander church has undergone extensive restoration and conservation efforts to preserve its historical significance. The church is used for various events and can be visited by the public. It also serves as a beautiful example of medieval architecture in the region.

For more information on the current state and use of the Alte St. Alexander church , you can visit the official website of the church^[8].

The Landmark: The Golden Hen

Sketch of the Golden Hen atop the church Alt-St. Alexander in Wallenhorst

Unlike the usual practice, the 30-meter-high western tower of the Alte St. Alexander church does not have a rooster but a hen.

According to legend, this originally gold-made hen was placed by Charles Carolingian (abt.0748-0814) after his victory over Widukind (Sachsen) von Westfalen (0755-0810), as a sign that it should hatch more churches. However, the golden glow must have disappeared over the centuries (if it was even there), because in 1711, Osnabrück's auxiliary bishop Johann Wilhelm Otto von Bronckhorst allowed the Wallenhorst parish to collect money throughout the diocese, in order to erect a new cross on the church tower and gild the hen placed there by Charlemagne as a permanent memory of the first Catholic church in this diocese...

After a lightning strike on the church tower in 1910, Jänecke had the opportunity to examine the hen more closely. At that time, it consisted of three flat copper sheets riveted on top of each other, with a thickness of 1-2 mm. On one side of the metal animal, three Latin letters were incised, which can be read as S.C.M. and interpreted as Sanctus Carolus Magnus. Below these three letters is the year 772, the founding year of the Diocese of Osnabrück. This number was obviously not added in 772 because such dates were not used during the Frankish period. On the other side of the hen, it says: Renuva-tum 1766, followed by two letters in the 18th-century italics script, referring to the priest at that time, Gosmann, who served as the Wallenhorst parish priest from 1750 to 1773. Jänecke concludes that due to the similarity in the "handwriting" of the inscriptions on both sides, they were added at the same time. He dates this to the year 1716, a year in which a similar event, like the one that might have hit the church tower in 1910, so the hen must have been created around that time.^[9]

The Church Paths

Hollage

The paths to the Alte St. Alexander church in the old village of Wallenhorst were typically individual paths leading from the various Hollage residences to the church.^[10] These were probably the most important routes that people regularly travelled from their farms during those times. The following list provides an overview:

• Fiestel: The Fiesteler Kirchweg led the Vollerben Bergmann, Witte, Wulftange, and Remme zu Fiestel, as well as the Markkotten Langkamp and Im Hagen to the church. Today, this corresponds to the path of the Fiesteler Straße, then the path of the Waldstraße, where the Markkotten Recker and Brankamp were located, followed by the road An der Sandgrube, which leads to the roundabout with the coffee cups. The route of the old church path is now interrupted by today's B68 road.
• Alt-Hollage: The Wellmans Kirchweg, which led from Alt-Hollage and then past Hünemann's Leibzucht to the church in Wallenhorst. It was recorded on the Charte von dem Hollager Berge from 1765 by E. H. Brockman. Later, it was known as the Hollager Kirchweg (church path) and is now the current Talstraße. The name Hollager Kirchweg was still common until the 1960s and led the residents of the Vollerbe-farms Clausing, Gottmann, Hünemann, Remme, and Wellmann, as well as the residents of numerous outbuildings to the old church in Wallenhorst. At the intersection between today's Talstraße and Piusstraße, it continued along the Pyer Kirchweg to the church.
• Brockhausen: The residents of the Vollerbe farms Dauwe went via today's Sachsegge and then met the Hollager Kirchweg and the Pyer Kirchweg.
• Dörnte: The Dörnter Kirchweg led from the Dörenburg and the Vollerbe farms Klumpe and Trame, as well as the Markkotten farms Stallkamp, Taube, and In der Heide, through the Esch and over today's Uhlandstraße to the Hollager Straße, and then to the current roundabout with the coffee cups.
• Barlage: The Barlager Kirchweg runs straight from the place of the same name toward the church. It has the name Hansastraße today, and it was used by the residents of the Vollerbe farms Jürgens-Barlag and Gers-Barlag, as well as the Markkotten farm Otte. In the northern part of Barlage, there is still a separate church path from the Halberbe Niehaus farm, the Niehaus Kirchweg, which goes through the "Königstannen" to the Barlager Kirchweg.^[10]

Lechtingen

The Lechtinger Kirchweg begins on the street now known as Buchgarten and extends northward, where it is called the Lechtinger Church Path until the intersection with the Mühlenstraße, which remains its name up to the autobahn. Following that, there are sections called Im Vogelpohl, Waltbertweg, and Im Alten Dorf.^[10]

Pye

The Pyer Kirchweg has retained its name to this day and leads from Fürstenauer Weg toward Nasse Heide, past the intersection of the current Talstraße and the new St. Alexander church.^[10]

Schleptrup

Schleptruper Kirchweg

The Schleptruper Kirchweg starts behind the old church and leads from there to Schleptrup. It is probably the most original among all the paths to the church and has likely remained mostly unchanged in its original form.^[10]

Inscriptions

Side Door

Side Door Inscription at "Alte St. Alexanderkirche Wallenhorst"

In the lintel of the side door created in 1767, pastor Friedrich Goßmann had the following inscription carved: "VNI DEO s. CAROLVS EX FANO SACRAVIT" (="To the one and only God, the Holy Charles consecrated (this church) from a (pagan) sanctuary.") The chronogram indicates the year 777.

Church Pews

On the occasion of Wallenhorst's eleven-hundredth anniversary, the seventh-grade class of the school in Wallenhorst has transcribed the names carved into the church pews. These names are presented here and may be of interest to genealogists:^[11]

• MEYER PEDENPOHL TRAME UND SWALENBERG GEHÖREN MIT IN DIESEN SANCK STULL
• H - VON - BÖSELAGE - FRAVEN - STUHL
• H - VON - BÖSELAGE - STUHL
• DIESE STELLE GEHÖRT GÖSLing ALBERT und SchöLeR und PEDENPOL
• IOHAN WERGES SENE KIRCHENSTETTE
• UND KLEINE U GROSE SIBENBÜRGEN STETE
• SANDER WÖSMAN VND jOST KAL BRECKER DEN DGEHÖRT DIESE KIRCHEN STEDE
• jOST KALBRECK jOST KAL BRECKER IONAN BRAME WERGES
• Gößling zu Pie Col: Osterfelt
• KLUMPEN SETNE NEWE STETE HEDEMAN BEDEBCBEKE
• WULF AVERRIEN
• JOHANN JÜRGEN RÖLKER GENANNT WULF Gehört jetz Schull. Burlage
• FRANS ANTON HAVJGHORST GERD BARLAG FRANS TÖHLEN BANCK
• EINE VON HEJMKAMP HÖRT IN DJESE BANCK
• ZWEI V. KALBRECKER HÖRT IN DJ BANCK

Cemetery

The cemetery was initially arranged around the church. At the end of the 19th century, a new cemetery was inaugurated along with the new church. Parish members were buried in the old church cemetery up until 22 December 1893.

Only very few gravestones exist today. They are depicted here:

Grave Chatrina Welman

Grave Johan Stephan Thrame

(Note: more to come as we add the profiles of the deceased)...

WikiTree Stuff

Church Image on WikiTree Profiles

To include the image of the Alt St. Alexander chruch on suitable WikiTree profiles, please use the following code:

{{Image|file=Wallenhorst_Niedersachsen_One_Place_Study.jpg |caption=[[Space:Alte_St._Alexander_Kirche%2C_Wallenhorst%2C_Niedersachsen|Alte St. Alexander Kirche, Wallenhorst]] }}

This will generate the image with the caption as used further up on this page (including a hyperlink to this free space page).

Categories

There is no particularly category for people baptised or married in this church. However, to categorise the people buried in the church cemetery of Old St. Alexander, please use the following code:

[[Category:Friedhof Alte St. Alexanderkirche, Wallenhorst, Niedersachsen]]

Note, the person would have to be buried before 22 December 1893, to be located on the old church cemetery

Otherwise, they were buried in the new church cemetery. So for deceased after 22 December 1893, you might like to assign the following category:

[[Category:Friedhof Wallenhorst, Wallenhorst, Niedersachsen]]

Sources

1. ↑ Meyer (1858): "Über die Gründung der Kirche zu Wallenhorst bei Osnabrück," in: Osnabrücker Mitteilungen Band 5, 1858, pp. 325-35, as Digitalisat der HathiTrust Digital Library
2. ↑ Richard, W. (1858): "Nachträgliche Mittheilungen über den Bau der Kirche zu Wallenhorst bei Osnabrück," in: Osnabrücker Mitteilungen Band 5, 1858, pp. 335-8, as Digitalisat der HathiTrust Digital Library
3. ↑ Hase, C.W. (1861): "Die Kirche in Wallenhorst bei Osnabrück in Westphalen," in: Uebersicht der mittelalterlichen Baudenkmäler Niedersachsens, Digitalisat bei Google Books
4. ↑ Mithoff, H. W. H. (1879): Kunstdenkmale und Alterthümer im Hannoverschen, 6. Band, Hannover, 1879, pp. 165ff."
5. ↑ Jänecke, Wilhelm (1926): "Die Entstehungsgeschichte der alten Kirche in Wallenhorst," in: Osnabrücker Mitteilungen Band 48,, 1926, pp. 1 ff.
6. ↑ Jänecke, Wilhelm (1928): "Die Kirche in Wallenhorst bei Osnabrück," in: Denkmalpflege und Heimatschutz, 30. Jg. (1928), Nr. 4, pp. 25ff
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Müller, K. (1976): Die Alte St.-Alexander-Kirche zu Wallenhorst, Veröffentlichungen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für die Geschichte der Gemeinde Wallenhorst und für Allgemeine Heimatkunden (Hrsg.), Heft 3, Wallenhorst 1976.
8. ↑ https://www.altekirche-wallenhorst.de/, accessed 27 October 2023.
9. ↑ Jänecke, Dr.: Die Henne von Wallenhorst, in: Die Denkmalpflege Vol. 12, 1910, S. 45-7, als Digitalisat (kostenfrei) bei Digizeitschriften.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4} Alle Wege führen zu St. Alexander, in: BürgerEcho - Informationsblatt des Bürgerverein Wallenhorst e.V., December 1, 2021, pp. 34f.
11. ↑ Klasse VII der Schule Wallenhorst: In den Kirchenbänken eingeschnittene Namen, in: Arbeitsgemeinschaft für die Geschichte des Kirchspiels Wallenhorst und für Allgemeine Heimatkunde (Hrsg.): Elfhundert Jahre Wallenhorst, WALLENHORST 851 - 1951: Kulturgeschichtliche Aufsätze zur Elfhundertjahrfeier des Kirchspiels Wallenhorst 851-1951, 1. Auflage, 1951, Wallenhorst, Selbstverlag der Arbeitsgemeinschaft, page 59.