Worms Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Worms Cathedral
St. Peter's Cathedral
Wormser Dom
The east end of the Cathedral.
49°37′49″N 8°21′35″E / 49.63028°N 8.35972°E / 49.63028; 8.35972
Location	Worms, Rhineland-Palatinate
Country	Germany
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Former name(s)	Cathedral Church of St. Peter of Worms
Founder(s)	Berthulf of Worms
Architecture
Previous cathedrals	2
Architectural type	Romanesque
Years built	1130–1181
Specifications
Nave height	26 m (85 ft)
Number of spires	4
Bells	8
Tenor bell weight	2,855 kg (6,294 lb)
Administration
Diocese	Mainz
Province	Freiburg

St Peter's Cathedral: West end

St Peter's Cathedral – South façade

St Peter's Cathedral (German: Wormser Dom) is a large Roman Catholic church in Worms, southern Germany. It used to be a cathedral, which means it was the main church for a bishop.

The cathedral stands on the highest spot in Worms. It is a very important example of Romanesque style in the city. The cathedral is strongly connected to Bishop Burchard. It also played a big role in Worms' history during the 12th and 13th centuries.

For a long time, it was the main church for the Catholic Prince-Bishopric of Worms. This ended in 1802. After that, it became a regular parish church. However, in 1925, Pope Pius XI gave it the special title of minor basilica.

Most of the cathedral was finished by 1181. But some parts, like the west choir and the vaulted ceilings, were built later in the 13th century. The beautiful south entrance was added in the 14th century. The central dome has also been rebuilt over time.

St Peter's Cathedral before 1901

Many important events happened at the cathedral. In 1048, Leo IX was chosen as Pope here. The Concordat of Worms in 1122, which ended a big argument about church power, also took place. In 1235, Emperor Frederick II married Isabella of England at the cathedral. Later, in 1521, the Diet of Worms happened here. During this meeting, Martin Luther was declared a heretic.

History of Worms Cathedral

Early Buildings on the Hill

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  The current church compared to the Roman forum

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  The current church compared to the Merovingian basilica

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  The current church compared to Bishop Burchard of Worms's cathedral

Worms Cathedral is built on the highest hill in the city. This hill was safe from floods. People have lived here for a very long time, since about 3000 BC.

First, there were Celtic people. Then came a Germanic tribe called the Vangiones. The area around Worms was even named after them. The Romans later took over and built a trading center and temples on the hill.

Around 401 AD, the Roman army left Worms. A few years later, the Burgundians settled in Worms. The Romans had asked them to help protect the empire's borders. But when the Burgundians tried to break free from Roman rule in 435, they were defeated. The next year, the Huns attacked and killed many Burgundians.

Churches of Brunichildis and Burchard

After a big battle, the Franks moved into the Rhine valley. They took over Worms and became Christians. Worms became part of a Frankish kingdom called Austrasia.

Around 600 AD, a queen named Brunichildis lived in Worms. She and a later ruler, Dagobert I, built a church. It was built on the old Roman temple foundations. This church was an early version of the cathedral we see today.

Later, in the early 11th century, Bishop Burchard of Worms started building a new, larger church. This church was about the same size as the current cathedral. He convinced the Salian family to move their fort. Burchard then built a monastery, the Paulus Stift, on that spot.

The old church was taken down, and the new one was built at the same time. It was a cross-shaped church with two round ends. In 1018, the cathedral was officially opened with the Emperor there. But just two years later, the western part of the building fell down and had to be rebuilt. This church had a flat wooden roof. Records say Burchard's cathedral was very grand in the 1030s and 1040s.

The Current Cathedral's Construction

The Strasbourg synagogue was designed like Worms Cathedral.

In 1110, the cathedral was officially opened for a second time. This probably happened after more repairs were made.

The cathedral we see today was mostly built in the 12th century. Around 1130, Bishop Burchard II started tearing down the old church. He began building a new one, perhaps because the old one was damaged. He finished the eastern part, including the dome and transept (the cross-shaped arms), by about 1144.

The main part of the church (the nave) and the western choir and towers were built between 1160 and 1181. This work was done by later bishops, Conrad I and Conrad II. Bishop Conrad II officially opened the cathedral on May 2, 1181.

This building period was at the same time as the first phase of Gothic style. Worms Cathedral used new pointed arch vaults for its tall ceilings. But the rest of the building kept the older Romanesque style. For example, all the doors, windows, and arches are round. This mix of new vaults and old Romanesque walls makes the cathedral a great example of Late Romanesque style.

The western choir has four round windows, including a large rose window. The shape of the western choir is polygonal, both inside and out. This was the first time a major church used a polygonal choir. It even influenced French Gothic churches later on.

The top parts of the towers were built after the cathedral was opened. They show some Gothic details. Many religious buildings nearby copied the cathedral's style. It also looks similar to the imperial cathedrals in Speyer and Mainz.

Later Changes and Repairs

About 100 years after the cathedral's third opening, the Chapel of St Nicholas was started. A new south entrance was built. Two more chapels, for St Anne and St George, were added in the early 14th century.

Northwestern tower. Notice the brick walls above and below the gallery.

In 1429, the northwestern tower cracked because of an earthquake. It was rebuilt by 1472. The builders used Gothic details but kept the original shape. This was an early example of trying to preserve the old look. However, they used different materials, like brick, for almost half of the outer walls.

The Aegidius chapel (now St Mary chapel) was built next to the northern side aisle around 1480-1485.

Towards the end of the 15th century, under Bishop Johann von Dalberg, the old Romanesque cloisters (covered walkways) were updated. This resulted in five large late Gothic stone carvings showing scenes from the life of Jesus. These carvings are now in the north side-aisle of the cathedral. They include the Tree of Jesse (1488), the Annunciation (1487), the birth of Christ (1515), the entombment (around 1490), and the resurrection (around 1490). A sixth carving of the crucifixion was probably lost in a fire in 1689.

From Reformation to Revolution

Gothic carvings from the old cloisters

The Diet of Worms in 1521 was very important for the diocese and cathedral. Soon after, some churches in Worms started following the teachings of Martin Luther. By 1556, all churches in the Palatinate region did the same.

During the Thirty Years War, Swedish soldiers held the city from 1632 to 1635. The cathedral was used for Protestant services during this time.

In the Nine Years War, King Louis XIV ordered cities like Heidelberg, Mannheim, Speyer, and Worms to be destroyed. Churches were robbed. People tried to blow up the cathedral, but it failed. However, it was badly damaged by fire. Bishop Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuberg had the cathedral repaired in 1698. Some baroque features, like the windows and the high altar by Balthasar Neumann, come from this period.

St Peter's Cathedral, 1824

Later, French Revolutionary soldiers damaged the cathedral again. In 1792, they looted Speyer, Worms, Mainz, and Frankfurt. The cathedral was even used as a stable and a tavern. Between 1818 and 1830, the cloisters were torn down, and their stones were sold.

Modern Renovations

Dachshund statue on the south portal, 1920

South portal

A major renovation of St Peter's Cathedral began in 1886. The west choir had to be completely rebuilt because it was weak and damaged from the 1689 fire. Builders tried to reuse as many original stones as possible. On the outside, almost all the old stones are back in their original places. Inside, new, flat stones were used and carefully rebuilt.

The general renovations also included fixing the Chapel of St Nicholas. The entire floor was rebuilt, and a new crypt was added for the tombs of the Salian family under the high choir. These renovations were finished in 1935.

During the renovation work in 1920, the head architect, Philipp Brand, was on scaffolding. A dachshund dog attacked him. He stepped aside, and a falling stone missed him but killed the dog. As a small memorial, Philipp Brand had a statue of the dachshund placed on the upper left of the south portal, near a window.

In 1945, during World War II, the cathedral was hit by a bomb. The roof burned, but the main vaulted ceilings inside were not damaged.

Architecture and Features

The cathedral is a pier-basilica. This means it has strong pillars instead of columns. It has two choirs (areas for the choir and altar) and a transept (the arms of the cross shape). A central tower is above the main crossing, and another is over the western choir. Both choirs have two round staircase towers next to them.

The main part of the church (the nave) has different types of vaulted ceilings. The central aisle has rib vaulting, while the side aisles have groin vaults. The apse (rounded end) of the west choir is shaped like an octagon and has several rosette windows.

Glass Windows

Sadly, none of the original Medieval glass windows survived. They were destroyed by the Oppau explosion in 1921.

The current glass windows in the cathedral are very different. Some are simple clear or milky glass. Others are complex picture windows, especially in the chapels. For example, the Chapel of Mary has colorful windows by Heinz Hindorf (1986–1988). They show scenes from Mary's life and the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

The Geschichtsfenster (History Window) in the Chapel of St George (1992) tells the story of the Worms diocese. It shows 20 scenes, from the first known bishop in 345 to the city's destruction in World War II. One unusual part shows the Biblis Nuclear Power Plant as the Tower of Babel. This is a way to show human sinfulness.

Burials and Tombs

Royal Burials in the Crypt

Salian crypt

Four Salian princes were buried in the old Frankish church. Five more were buried there by 1046. These were ancestors and relatives of Emperor Conrad II. Their names are:

• Conrad the Red, Duke of Lorraine († 955)
• Judith, Duchess of Carinthia († 991)
• Henry, Count of Wormsgau († 990/991)
• Judith (Sister) († 998)
• Conrad I, Duke of Carinthia († 1011)
• Matilda (wife of Conrad I) († 1031/32)
• Queen Matilda († 1034), wife of Henry I of France (moved to Worms in 1046)
• Conrad II, Duke of Carinthia († 1039)
• Bishop Azecho, who followed Bishop Burchard († 1044)

These sarcophagi (stone coffins) have been in a special crypt since the early 20th century. Since the floor of the transept and east choir is very high, it is believed there was always a crypt underneath.

Other Graves

Funerary monument of Canon Eberhard of Heppenheim († 1559)

Many grave monuments, gravestones, and grave plates are found in the cathedral. Some notable people buried or remembered here include:

• Reinbold Beyer of Boppard († 1364)
• Dietrich of Bettendorf (1518–1580), Bishop of Worms
• Wilhelm of Efferen (1563–1616), Bishop of Worms
• Eberhard of Heppenheim († 1559), a church official
• Franz Rudolph of Hettersdorf (1675–1729), a church official and donor
• Johann Adam of Hoheneck († 1731), a church official
• Johann Franz Jakob Anton of Hoheneck (1686–1758), a church official
• Landolf of Hoheneck († 1247), Bishop of Worms (a later monument from 1756)
• Franz Carl Friedrich of Hohenfeld (1696–1757), a church official
• Christoph Jodok of Ketteler (1661–1735), a church official
• Philipp of Rodenstein (1564–1604), Bishop of Worms
• Georg of Schönenberg (1530–1595), Bishop of Worms
• Burchard II, also called Bucco or Buggo († 1149), Bishop of Worms and builder of the eastern part of the cathedral.

Chapel of St Nicholas

Remains of the cloister

New Chapel of St Nicholas, outside view

Stone font in the chapel of St Nicholas

During the third building period, an early Romanesque chapel for St Nicholas of Myra was built. It was opened in 1058. Its dedication stone and the tympanum (a carved panel above the door) of the old entrance are still here. This tympanum has one of the oldest pictures of St Nicholas. The chapel likely held a relic (a special object) of the Saint. Empress Theophanu brought this relic from Byzantium in 972.

The current Chapel of St Nicholas was built in the same spot between 1280 and 1315. It is in the Gothic style and has two aisles. It is right next to the main entrance on the south side of the cathedral. At that time, St Nicholas was very popular. He was seen as a protector for many groups and a helper in many situations. This might explain why the chapel is so large and fancy.

A scholar named Daniel Papebroch saw the original Worms relic of St Nicholas in 1660. He said it was a "finger bone" of the saint. It was kept in the cathedral's sacristy but used to be shown in its own chapel. He also noted that the Worms relic was always kept in oil, just like the St Nicholas relic in Bari today. The old relic was lost when the city was destroyed during the Nine Years War. A new relic was brought to the chapel in the late 20th century.

Romanesque tympanum of St Nicholas

The chapel was originally part of the cloisters (covered walkways) that were next to it. When the cloisters were removed in 1830, the chapel became unstable. So, between 1920 and 1927, it had to be taken apart and rebuilt. New foundations were put in. They also made the chapel a bit longer to the west to look better after the cloisters were gone. The current entrance on the south side is new. But its tympanum comes from the old door that led from the cloisters into the chapel.

Today, the Chapel of St Nicholas has items that were originally meant for other places. The Gothic carved altar is from Southern Germany and was bought recently. The late Gothic baptismal font was originally in the Johanneskirche, a church that was torn down in the 19th century. The chapel's deep blue-red windows create a special, almost mystical light. The chapel's high roof holds a collection of architectural decorations. The cellar below has the cathedral's central heating system. The chapel is now used for baptisms and weekday services.

High Altar

High altar by Johann Balthasar Neumann

Franz Ludwig of Pfalz-Neuburg, a powerful church leader, left money in his will for a new high altar. His successor, Franz Georg of Schönborn, asked his brother Friedrich to get the famous builder Johann Balthasar Neumann for the project. Neumann created the beautiful new high altar. It is made of gilded wood and colorful marble.

Organs

Main Organ (Klais 1985)

Swallow's nest organ by Klais

In 1985, Klais Orgelbau built a large organ called a swallow's nest organ. It has three keyboards and 34 different sounds (registers). It was slightly changed in 2007. The keys are connected mechanically, but the stops (which change the sound) are electronic.

Choir Organ (Oberlinger 1996)

Choir organ by Oberlinger

There is also a choir organ built in 1996 by Oberlinger. It has mechanical keys and stops, like the organs of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. This organ is special because it is very compact. It can even be moved about 50 cm away from the wall. This small size was needed so the organ wouldn't block the view of the high altar from the main part of the church. The organ was designed by Wolfgang Oberlinger and built with help from the diocese's architects. The sound of the organ was set by Jean-Pierre Swiderski, an expert in Cavaillé-Coll organs.

Bells

Before Worms was destroyed in 1689, six bells hung in the cathedral's four towers. In 1728, the cathedral got a new set of six bells. But during the French Revolution, these bells were taken away. When the cathedral became a parish church, four bells were placed in the southeast tower. These bells were destroyed by bombs at the end of World War II.

Bottom left Peter and Paul, bottom right Mary, upper right Brother Conrad. (Photo from 2015, before new bells were added)

In 1949, three new bells were made by Albert Junker of Brilon to replace the lost ones. They were named after Peter and Paul (the cathedral's patron saints), the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saint Conrad of Parzham. These bells were blessed on Easter Sunday 1949 and hung in the south-east tower.

To celebrate the cathedral's 1000th anniversary in 2018, five more new bells were added. The old bells also got new clappers. The new bells were tuned to match other church bells in the city. This allows for a larger "City peal" when all three churches ring their bells together.

All the new bells were made by the Rincker Bell Foundry. The names and messages on the bells were designed by local artist Klaus Krier. All eight bells rang together for the first time on May 19, 2018.

Worms Cathedral in the Nibelungen Saga

A famous part of the Nibelungenlied (a German epic poem) happens at the cathedral's entrance. Two rival queens, Brünhilde and Kriemhild, argue about whose husband is more important. They want to know who should enter the cathedral first. This argument is a key moment that leads to the death of Siegfried and the destruction of the Nibelungs.

The entrance they argued at was on the north side of the cathedral. It was much more detailed before it was destroyed in 1689.

Because of this story, the Nibelungenfestspiele (Nibelung Festival) has been held on a stage in front of the cathedral since 2002.

See Also

In Spanish: Catedral de Worms para niños

• The New Synagogue of Strasbourg, built from 1895 to 1898, was designed to look like Worms Cathedral.
• Mainz Cathedral