Early
Gothic Brick Stone Church
St. Petri
Landkirchen
auf Fehmarn
Text
by: Pastor Eberhard Voß
8 photos by: Land office of the curator of monuments, Schleswig Holstein 1995.
1385
Landkirchen church, floor plan
St.
Petri-Church in Landkirchen/Fehmarn
Built:
The oldest part dates back to the 13th century. The choir stall has
been extended in late Gothic style by adding side wings to widen the room
(outside in large freestones on the bottom).
Name: Dedicated to Peter the patron Saint for the island, (his image is
pictured above the western entrance door).
2.
Stained glass window: of 1974 by Klaus Bönninghausen, cut glass artwork
over-refinement: Peter’s fishing haul and a baptismal symbol.
3.
Memorial of the Mackeprang-Witt’s clan-ship: 1580 of three chairs, 1913
renewed. Insignia (Wappen): Bird’s
claw with wing and three pennies (Wittenpfennig?)
[at that time the monetary system of the free trade center: Hanseatic Lübeck].
Since 1926 it is permitted for any church member to sit in that pew.
4.
A holy baptismal basin (Weihbecken): Gothic marble, next to the
southern door in the choir stall.
5.
Iron bell of 1920: Created after the first world war, as a warning sign.
6.
Canister for coal 1491: To carry coal, two lion heads with rings.
Inscription:
Mr. John Kule, provost marshal on the island Fehmarn donated the canister to the
church, (her jones kule prawest up Vemeren gaf de scape [antiq. low German])
7.
Choir seats: 9 choir seats (originally 12 seats, Gothic style) for the land
managers, chamberlains and clergies in the Middle Ages.
8.
Stresow’s books: Donated to the church by Pastor Conrad Friedrich Stresow
in the year 1660.
9.
Tabernacle: In the choir stall, decorated in late Gothic mounting and cross
enclosure.
10.
Gravestone of the land manager Peter Witte from Lemkenhafen with the
Mackeprang-Witt’s clan-insignia, (Hausmarke).
11.
Landesblock: A raw dug-out with mighty castles. At
one time the land seals were kept there, like special privilege rights for
the islanders and documents. The keys were kept by all the chamberlains of the
island: Petersdorf, Landkirchen and the eastern district Burg and Bannesdorf.
12.
Prayer benches "Beetschemel"
Recovering
the cross, [after the “legenda aurea”]
The
son of Adam, Seth went to the gate of paradise and asked the arch angle
“Michael” for oil from the tree of mercy. With it he wanted to cure his
ailing father; but Michael tells him that the oil is not available until 5500
years later. So the arch angle gave him a twig of the tree of wisdom. He planted
it on Adam’s grave, who had died in the meantime. From that twig sprouted a
tree, which was felled by King Salomon, when he had his temple built. The wood
was not good enough to build a temple, but was used to build a bridge. The queen
of Sheba had a vision, and predicted that some day the savior of the world would
be crucified on that tree. She never would use that bridge, instead she prayed
to the wood. When Salomon heard of it, he took the wood and buried it. On the
same place came to be a pond for sheep, where the lambs, which were used for
burnt offerings, were washed. The strength of the wood gave out healing power to
the water. Later, when the time of Christ’s suffering came about, the wood
came to the surface and they made the cross out of that wood.
Interior of the church: Organ 1787 (by Marcussen). Organ: mechanical traction, 18 registers. Organ built Orgelempore 1778), rococo artwork at the base. Framed fields. Inscription of the donor framed in rocaille. Crown chandelier 1706 with 2 circular lightings and the double eagle, donated by: Shipper Franz Randel. Crown chandelier of 1732 with 16 lights, donated by: Peter Scheel and Frau (Mrs) Trienke.
A view of the eastern side of the church with the cross blending in, and 3 windows of the original one-structured building. The (sacristan) vestry added on, in late Gothic architecture.
Altar
in late baroque (of 1715). Fides* [symbolizing the virtue: faith], between
Corinthian
columns. Among the two virtues Fides* [faith] and Spes* [symbolizing the
virtue: hope] (with anchor [representing or symbolizing: faith] and the dove
[representing hope]), Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross (statue by: Brusewindt);
beneath it the ‘Holy Communion’. At the top, symbolic figurines with the
hourglass (representing: [death], mortality) and the ear of grain (representing
[fertility] or eternity).
The pulpit, artwork in late baroque (1727). At the stair balustrade: Justitia (balance and sword [representing justice and punishment]) Fortitude and Temperantia [symbol of self control]. (3 Cardinal virtues of Antique): Around the pulpit enclosure): Spes (anchor), Caritas [symbol of love & charity] (with children and the flaming heart), the agony personified, Fides [faith] (with chalice) and Patientia [symbol of patience] (with the lamb.)
The Baptismal (in baroque style from 1735), octagonal, in the shape of a goblet with a cover (it reminds of the goblet for holy sacrament). Cherub heads and angelic figurines. Cabinetwork with pilastern. Five reliefs: The flood, Moses gets water from a stone, blessing Pantokrator Christus, John baptizing Jesus, baptism of the chamberlain (Ethiopian) by Philip. [Greek] Acanthus ornaments.
A
votive ship from 1617: With Lübeck [Hanseatic] Eagle, donation from shippers
from the island Fehmarn. The stern of this war ship (with 32 cannons on three
battery decks.
Mother
Mary chandelier, from 1390: double-sided rays illuminating the MADONNA. 4 arches
in almond shape, flower of the cross as crown.
Crucifix in Gothic style, from the 14. Century, body of Christ on the cross.
The FEHMARN GENEALOGY Site
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