St. Leonhard, Frankfurt

St. Leonhard is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. Its historic church dates to 1219, when it was erected in the centre of the town close to the river Main, as a Romanesque-style basilica. From 1425, it was remodeled to a hall church in late Gothic style. St. Leonhard was the only one of nine churches in the Old Town that survived World War II almost undamaged. Today, the parish is part of the Domgemeinde (Cathedral parish) and serves as the parish church of English-speaking Catholics. It is a monument of Frankfurt's history as well as church history and medieval crafts.

St. Leonhard
The church from the bridge Eiserner Steg
50.1089°N 8.6802°E / 50.1089; 8.6802
LocationFrankfurt, Germany
DenominationCatholic
Websitewww.dom-frankfurt.de/leonhard/
History
DedicationSt. Leonhard
Consecrated1219 (1219)
Administration
DioceseLimburg
Floor plan

History
Gothic choir with stained-glass windows, 2008

The church began as a Romanesque style basilica 1219, built in the centre of the town close to the river Main. It is dedicated to St. Leonhard. It featured twin steeples and a richly decorated portal to the north.[1] The church was remodelled c. 1425 with a late Gothic choir, possibly after a design by Madern Gerthener, with extant balconies and stained-glass windows from c. 1435.[2] The church was expanded to a hall church in late Gothic style with four aisles between 1508 and 1520.[1][2] A chapel in the south was added by H. Baltz c. 1515.[1][3] In 1792, French troops occupied the building, used it for storage, and sold much of its furniture.[4]

The church was the only one of nine churches in the Old Town that was almost completely undamaged during World War II.[2] Today, the parish is part of the Domgemeinde (Cathedral parish) and serves as the parish church of English-speaking Catholics. It is a monument of Frankfurt's history as well as church history and medieval crafts.[1]

The interior of the church has been under restoration since 2011.[2] During this time, services are held at the cathedral and at the Heilig-Geist-Kirche. Excavations revealed a stone statue called Atzmann, which served as a stand for liturgical music. Similar stands are found in the Frankfurt Cathedral, Limburg Cathedral and Naumburg Cathedral.[5] Five of the Gothic window panes were moved to a convent in Heidelberg in the 18th century, but are planned to be returned to their original position. One of them shows the patron saint.[4]

Literature
  • Wolfgang Klötzer, Gottfried Frenzel, Ingeborg Limmer (ill.): St. Leonhard zu Frankfurt am Main. Karl Robert Langewiesche Nachfolger, Königstein im Taunus 1982.
  • Matthias Theodor Kloft: St. Leonhard Frankfurt am Main. 4th ed. Schnell & Steiner Kunstführer No. 2196, Regensburg, ISBN 3-7954-5944-3.
  • Herbert Natale: Die St. Leonhardskirche im Spiegel der Frankfurter Stadt- und Kirchengeschichte. In: Archiv für mittelrheinische Kirchengeschichte. 18. Jahrgang, Jaeger Druck GmbH, Speyer 1966.
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References
  1. "St. Leonhardskirche" (in German). Denkmalpflege Hessen. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  2. "Innenrestaurierung St. Leonhardskirche" (in German). Frankfurt. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. "St. Leonhard's Church". Frankfurt. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  4. "Mittelalterliche Fenster der Leonhardskirche Rückkehr nach 200 Jahren". Frankfurter Neue Presse (in German). 19 May 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  5. Gottwals, Gernot (19 May 2014). "Ausgrabung in Sankt Leonhard / Der Atzmann ruft". Frankfurter Neue Presse (in German). Retrieved 7 November 2017.
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