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District Administrator Stegmann starts fundraising campaign for Wasserburg Church!
St. George's Church in Wasserburg urgently needs renovations; District Administrator Stegmann is planning funding through brick sponsorships.
District Administrator Stegmann starts fundraising campaign for Wasserburg Church!
In Wasserburg on Lake Constance, St. George's Church is not only an architectural gem, but also a testimony to a long history. First mentioned in 784, it was founded in 945 for monks on the island of Wasserburg. The church has experienced a lot: from being incorporated into a parish by the St. Gallen Monastery in 1388 to several restorations that revealed the structural damage caused by fire and storms.
The church has struggled with significant damage in recent years: “Since the last restoration in 2014, there have been problems with the roof again, exacerbated by climate change,” reports Schwäbische.de. The renovation costs for the church roof are estimated at 500,000 euros, while the cemetery wall costs 700,000 euros. These challenges led Pastor Gührer to seek support from the community, as no reserves could be created for restoration.
Support for the renovation
Significant help now seems to be within reach. District Administrator Elmar Stegmann has launched an aid campaign to find sponsors for the renovation. Those interested can sponsor 28,000 tiles for the church roof or 800 tiles for the cemetery wall. Donations of 50 euros per brick are requested, with the names of the donors being immortalized on the bricks.
“I took over the sponsorship of the first ridge tile,” says Stegmann. In doing so, he not only wants to contribute to the restoration, but also to initiate a wave of solidarity within the community. The diocese will cover 60 percent of the renovation costs, but the remaining 40 percent is the responsibility of the Wasserburg Church Foundation.
Cultural heritage and Jewish life
St. George's Church is not only a place of faith, but also a center of cultural creation. In the late 13th and early 14th centuries, important, richly illustrated manuscripts were produced here. A particularly notable aspect of this period is the stay of the Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenburg, who was imprisoned here between 1286 and 1287. His influence and exchange with the Christian community are of historical interest, such as kirche-am-see.de describes.
Where religious exchange and cultural encounters once took place, Wasserburg was also plagued by persecution over time. Discourses about Jewish life on Lake Constance illustrate the relevance of the culture of remembrance. Events about the coexistence of Jews and Christians are currently planned, which will take place at various locations on Lake Constance as part of a year of celebration of Jewish life in Germany South Courier.
These events are intended not only to keep the memory of Jewish history alive, but also to provide a space for dialogue and reflection.
Overall, it can be said that the renovation of St. George's Church in Wasserburg is an important step in preserving cultural identity and shared heritage for future generations. If you would like to help, you can contact Pastor Gührer by email or make donations directly to the St. Georg Church Foundation. Participating in the sponsorship could be the beginning of a new chapter in the history of this historic site.