Catholic Chruch St. Mary Immaculate Conception

Posted by Michael (Wuppertal, Germany) on 8 May 2008 in Art & Design and Portfolio.

Now for something completely different!
In the next days I would like to introduce you with the "the great outdoors" around the place where I live.

The first picture is a church about 15km from my home. I always wanted to take a shot of this little church.
Here is the story about this church:

Since 1680, Neviges is most northern place of pilgrimage from the alps, thanks to a small picture of the Maria Immaculata . During his daily prayer in the Franciscan cloister of Dorsten one day that year, father Antonius Schirley heard a voice saying: "Bring me to Hardenberg where I shall be worshiped". The voice also predicted a miraculous healing. Therefore he delivered the picture to his brothers in Hardenberg-Neviges. The ruling bishop of Paderborn and Münster, Ferdinand von Fürstenberg who was severely sick heard about this event. After his unexpected healing he made a pilgrimage of thanks to Neviges on the 25th October 1681. In addition he financed the completion of the Franciscan cloister construction until 1683. This event was the trigger of the traditional pilgrimage to Neviges.

The Franciscans had already settled in Neviges in 1676 to spread the catholic faith in a more reformed area. A small church that was devoted to holy Anna served as church of pilgrimage and of the local parish. However, this church became too small, as after 1681 more and more people came to worship the famous Madonna. So a larger church was built and completed in 1728 under the title of the "Immaculate Conception".
It is a single-nave begging-order church. To the west, it is connected with the cloister building and inner courtyard. Furthermore, here a small aisle can be found above which the gallery is located. In the bell tower, the three bells of the church are installed. The long but plain body is covered by a cross-point-vault. The mercy-picture was kept in the Mary-altar for almost three centuries. Like the Antonius-altar, it is made of black and white marble. In front of the communion bench, the celebrations altar can be found. The high altar is sumptuously decorated and was built in the 18th century, just like the organ, the font and the choir seats.

Due to my work I am not able to answer your posts at once- but be sure, every of your highly appreciated comments is read! I will always have a look to your pictures at aminus 3- even there might no be a post underneath!

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