St. Martin is a Gothic church and the associated Catholic parish in Lorch am Rhein, Hesse, Germany. In 2002, it became part of the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church features the oldest and largest monochrome wood-carved altar in Germany. Its organ from 1984 makes it also a concert venue, where international organists such as Olivier Latry have performed.
History
The present Gothic building was begun in the 13th century, replacing an earlier Romanesque basilica.[1] The choir was built first, around 1270, possibly by craftspeople who also worked at the Cologne Cathedral.[1] After an interruption, the main nave was built from around 1304. A second nave was begun in 1398.[1][2] The steeple was erected on the foundation of a watch tower from Roman times.[1] The front to the West was remodelled by an entrance hall around 1480. A fire destroyed the roof of the church and the steeple in 1554, repairs were done by 1576 and 1578 respectively.[3]
In 2002, it became part of the Rhine Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site.[2]
Features
The church's high altar is from 1483.[4] The monochrome carved wooden altar was attributed to the workshop of Master Hans (Bilger) from Worms, but this is not confirmed, and comparison to other works by him raises doubts. The altar is the highest and first monochrome carved altar in Germany.[1][2]
The church features choir benches from the end of the 13th century with carvings of figures, a Gothic tabernacle from the 15th century.[1] Many of the church's valuable religious art works were sold in the 19th century by parson Geiger to finance a renovation; remaining pieces include a Pietà from ca. 1400 and a baptismal font from 1464.[5] Two altars in the aisles are from the shop of Hans Steinlein.[6]
Robert Struppmann (1981). Maria-Kaufmann-Stiftung (ed.). Chronik der Stadt Lorch im Rheingau (in German). Lorch: Maria-Kaufmann-Stiftung.
Franz Carl Altenkirch (1926). Stadtverwaltung Lorch (ed.). Lorch im Rheingau. Die Geschichte der Stadt vom Ursprung bis zur Gegenwart (in German). Lorch: Stadtverwaltung Lorch.
Sruppmann, Robert; Rößler, Marianne (1989). Lorch und seine Kunst (in German). Lorch: Maria-Kaufmann-Stiftung Lorch Rheingau/Georg Aug. Walter's Druckerei GmbH, Eltville Rheingau.
Luthmer, Ferdinand (1907). Die Bauwerke von Lorch. Die Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler des Regierungsbezirks Wiesbaden (in German). Vol. I: Der Rheingau. Frankfurt am Main: Kommissionsverlag von Heinrich Keller. pp. 97–114. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)