Egenhofen: Historic church in decline – what will happen to Holy Cross?

Egenhofen: Historic church in decline – what will happen to Holy Cross?

The latest edition of the“Egenhofen Stories”deals intensively with the local church, which is considered a contemporary witness of the region. This edition, which comprises almost 60 pages, dedicates 14 of them to the Holy Cross Church in Rammertshofen. The church, which stands on a farm, is difficult to access as it does not offer public access. It was first mentioned in 1315, but if you look around today, you realize the sad reality: the church has been falling into disrepair for years. Cracks are clearly visible on the walls and ceilings, which indicate the dilapidated substance.

A large part of the movable furnishings was stored in the Ordinariate's art depot in 2010. “The future of the church remains unclear,” the magazine reports, “and the renovation costs are astronomical.” Among the countless challenges faced by those responsible, there was even a rejected application in 1929 to convert the church tower into a water reserve. The current issue also contains an obituary for the late messner Johann (Hans) Rieder, who worked at St. George's Church for over 66 years and took over the service from his father.

Insights into the community's history

The edition also offers an exciting look into the history of the community. Martin Obermeier has looked into the social origins of pastors up to the 19th century. It becomes clear that the parishes were once large farms and that the pastors often had to make a significant contribution to their parish. The issue also discusses the Rupp families, the Wagner estate and the Schräfl family. Interesting contemporary witness reports bring the reader closer to the events surrounding the end of the war 80 years ago, and nine authors have dealt intensively with these topics.

Another point that is also important concerns the impressive parish churchSt. Leodegarin Egenhofen, which is included in the list of architectural monuments. Built in 1410, it sets impressive architectural accents. Although it underwent some renovations between 1704 and 1707, the nave was redesigned in neo-baroque style in 1921. The belfry in the tower houses four church bells and the ceiling painting depicting Saint Leodegar of Autun was carried out by Hans Metzger in the same year. These details make St. Leodegar not only an important religious place, but also a historic building that has shaped the townscape.

The threat to historic buildings

But it's not just the stories of churches that are worrying. TheState Association for Homeland Caredraws attention to the gradual loss of historical buildings, as can be read on its homepage. Managing director Rudolf Neumaier has taken a critical stance on the demolition of numerous old inns, which not only shape the townscape but also represent social meeting places. It is unfortunate that many of these familiar sights and lived communities are at risk.

As part of an annual election“Outline of the Year”, which the association launched, there are twelve unfortunate cases of demolition to choose from. This campaign aims to draw attention to the value of historical building culture, which is often lost despite its importance. Last year around 1,700 people took part, and the negative prize went to a demolition site in Landshut, where a centuries-old craftsman's house had to be demolished. These circumstances make it clear that the protection and preservation of significant buildings is more relevant than ever and that communities should have a good hand in preserving their heritage.

With these stories and information, the magazine paints a picture of Egenhofen's dynamic history and underlines the importance of both the last contemporary witnesses and the historical buildings in the region. Anyone who would like to gain deeper insights into the history and important topics of the community will find an excellent source in the new edition of the “Egenhofen Stories”.