St Thomas' Church, Strasbourg facts for kids
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St Thomas' Church (also known as Église Saint-Thomas in French or Thomaskirche in German) is a very old and important building in Strasbourg, a city in eastern France. It has been the main Lutheran church in Strasbourg since 1681. This was when the city's main cathedral became Catholic again after France took control of the area.
People often call St Thomas' Church the "Protestant Cathedral" or the "Old Lady." It's special because it's the only "hall church" in the Alsace region. A hall church means all the main parts inside are about the same height. The French government has listed it as a Monument historique (a historic monument) since 1862.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The spot where St Thomas' Church stands has been a place of worship for a very long time. People were praying here as early as the 500s! In the 800s, a bishop named Adelochus built a grand church and a school. Sadly, both of these buildings burned down twice, once in 1007 and again in 1144.
Building the Church
In 1196, work began on a new church. It was designed to look strong, like a fortress, with a tall steeple. This part was built in the Romanesque style, which uses round arches and thick walls. Building stopped and started many times, but the church was finally finished in 1521. The later parts were built in the Gothic style, known for its pointed arches and tall windows.
Around 1450, the church asked an artist to create a series of paintings about the Passion of Jesus (the story of Jesus's last days). Many of these paintings are now in a museum in Germany. The artist is known as the "Master of the Karlsruhe Passion." One of his paintings even shows St Thomas' Church looking much like it does today!
A Change in Faith
In 1524, St Thomas' Church made a big change. It switched from being a Catholic church to a Protestant one. A famous pastor named Martin Bucer worked there. Even when Alsace became part of Catholic France, the church remained Protestant. Today, it still runs schools and a seminary (a college for training pastors) nearby.
The church also played an important role in how church services were done. Starting in 1888, a man named Friedrich Spitta tried out new ways to lead services here. A special choir was also started at the church. Later, between 1894 and 1899, a new hymn book for the Alsace-Lorraine region was created at St Thomas' Church.
On May 7, 2006, the church hosted a special event. It was the official celebration for the creation of the Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine (UEPAL).
Church Design: Architecture
St Thomas' Church is a unique building with five naves (the long central parts of a church). It's the oldest hall church in what used to be southwestern Germany. Inside, it's about 65 meters (213 feet) long and 30 meters (98 feet) wide. The main ceiling is 22 meters (72 feet) high, but under the Gothic dome, it reaches 30 meters (98 feet). There's a gallery on one side and small chapels near the altar area.
Special Things to See
Amazing Organs
The church is famous around the world for its incredible organs, which are like giant musical instruments.
- One organ was built in 1741 by a famous builder named Silbermann. The famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart even played it in 1778! It was carefully fixed up in 1979. A French organist named Louis Thiry recorded music by Johann Sebastian Bach on this very organ.
- The other organ was built in 1905 (installed in 1906). It was designed by the organist at the time, Albert Schweitzer, who was also a famous doctor and philosopher.
Ancient Tombs
You can find many old monuments and tombs inside the church, dating from the 1100s to the 1800s.
- The most well-known is the beautifully decorated stone coffin (called a sarcophagus) of Bishop Adelochus, from around 1130.
- Another famous one is the huge tomb of Marshal Maurice de Saxe, created in 1777 by a sculptor named Jean-Baptiste Pigalle.
- There's also a Renaissance tombstone from 1510 for Nikolaus Roeder von Tiersberg. It's quite striking because it shows a very realistic image of his body after death.
Old Frescoes
A large painting of Saint Michael on the wall, likely by an artist named Jost Haller, is one of the biggest of its kind in France. It's called a fresco because it was painted directly onto wet plaster.
Stained-Glass Windows
Only the round stained-glass window at the front of the church is still completely original from medieval times. In the main part of the church, the upper parts of the windows have fancy designs of buildings and plants. Sadly, the pictures of saints that used to be below them were destroyed in the 1500s during a time when people removed religious images. The windows in the choir area are more modern.
Images for kids
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The main organ, built by Johann Andreas Silbermann in 1741
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The choir organ, designed with plans from Albert Schweitzer in 1905
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The sarcophagus (stone coffin) of Bishop Adeloch
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A fresco painting of Saint Michael on the wall
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The large mausoleum (tomb) of Marshal Maurice de Saxe, made by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
