OBERKALBACH, HESSEN, GERMANY
Village of My Berthold and Ullrich Ancestors
INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT SURROUNDING VILLAGES
Lutheran Church
Village of My Berthold and Ullrich Ancestors
INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT SURROUNDING VILLAGES
Lutheran Church
A church already existed in Oberkalbach in 1267. Everyone was Catholic until 1531, when Lutheranism spread and became predominant in the area. From that time, the small villages were inhabited by either Lutherans or Catholics. Most of the villagers became Lutherans. Villagers not of the dominant religion in their villages attended church in another village where their religion was the dominant one. Before World War II, a Catholic living in Oberkalbach was very rare. In the Oberkalbach parish death register between 1654 and 1900, only two Catholic deaths were recorded: Klass Wagner died on 3 April 1680 and Johannes Weismueller died on 14 October 1745. The neighboring villages Mittelkalbach, Veitsteinbach and Eichenried were Catholic villages. Beginning in 1596, Oberkalbach and the surrounding area became predominantly Reformed (Calvinistic) but in 1817 the emperor Frederick II ruled that the protestant religions merge, after which the Protestant church was called the Evangelical church. The church itself had no distinguishing name, such as St. Paul's or Christ Church. In the villages, churches were simply known by the village name.
In an area of trees and meadows, about 2 kilometers south of Oberkalbach past Kiliansberg, is a large rounded stone. It is said that this is the location of a prehistoric graveyard. The rock is about 4 1/2 feet tall and has an indentation in the top. As early as 1619, this rock was called the Frauenstein and was the mark of the borders between the territory of the Bishop of Wuerzburg and that of Fulda. In the 19th century, the legend became popular that St. Kilian, an Irish missionary to the Franks, had used this rock as a baptismal font as he brought Christianity to this area. The stone then received the title “Taufstein” (baptismal rock).
In an area of trees and meadows, about 2 kilometers south of Oberkalbach past Kiliansberg, is a large rounded stone. It is said that this is the location of a prehistoric graveyard. The rock is about 4 1/2 feet tall and has an indentation in the top. As early as 1619, this rock was called the Frauenstein and was the mark of the borders between the territory of the Bishop of Wuerzburg and that of Fulda. In the 19th century, the legend became popular that St. Kilian, an Irish missionary to the Franks, had used this rock as a baptismal font as he brought Christianity to this area. The stone then received the title “Taufstein” (baptismal rock).
Because the parish records were destroyed by fire in the 30-Years War, not much is known about the parish prior to those years. The parish consisted of 3 communities - Oberkalbach, Heubach and Uttrichshausen. Each had its own church building. The pastor who began the parish records in 1654 was Henrich Appel. He served from 1653 to 1658. Some pastors served in this parish as little as one year but most served many years, the longest serving 49 years.
In 1847, the church building was torn down and a new one constructed which still stands today. The first service in the new church was held on Advent in 1850 but the building was not complete and dedicated until 10 April 1853. In 1894, fires burned in the neighborhood of the building and caused major damage to the church roof. In 1902, the building received a major renovation. By 1908, heaters were installed and in 1929 electricity was installed. By 1938, new altar cloths, candles, crosses and altar bibles were purchased. Additional doors were put in place to protect the congregation from the cold. The church has gone through several renovations, the latest took place between 2003 and 2006.
The church bells were sacrificed in 1941, being melted for the war effort. One of the bells dating from 1611 was retained. When the American forces came through Oberkalbach on 5 April 1945, this bell was shot at and damaged in the attack. New bells were placed in 1950. The organ pipes also were victims for the war effort.
At church services, men and women sat in separate sections of pews. Young people were instructed in catechism classes and then confirmed when they were about 13 or 14. In earlier times, church activity held a more prominent place in the lives of the villagers, but in the 1900's the majority of younger people were not regular churchgoers except during preparation for confirmation. It is common for church members to be at church at their baptism, marriage, and funeral and on special religious holidays, but today religion does not play a major part in their daily lives, except among the older population. I've heard it said that some Germans have requested excommunication in order to avoid paying the church tax that the government imposes on them.
During World War II, some Catholic families came to Oberkalbach because they were evacuated from their homes in the Rhein-Main area to avoid the heavy bombings. After the war, 20 Catholic families (about 80 people), refugees from eastern Europe who were driven from their homes, came to live in Oberkalbach. In 1946, the Lutheran pastor of Oberkalbach arranged for the Catholic priest from Mittelkalbach to conduct Catholic services in the Lutheran church each Sunday at 11 a.m. following the Lutheran services. The Lutheran pastor even located a moped for the priest to use in commuting between the villages. The numbers of Lutherans versus Catholics is less dramatic now than in former years. Interfaith marriages are not uncommon.
Before the beginning of civil records, the churches were the official record keepers for births, marriages and deaths. In the Oberkalbach area, civil records for births, deaths and marriages began to be kept in 1875. However, civil registration of marriage protocols began much earlier in the late 1600s.
In 1847, the church building was torn down and a new one constructed which still stands today. The first service in the new church was held on Advent in 1850 but the building was not complete and dedicated until 10 April 1853. In 1894, fires burned in the neighborhood of the building and caused major damage to the church roof. In 1902, the building received a major renovation. By 1908, heaters were installed and in 1929 electricity was installed. By 1938, new altar cloths, candles, crosses and altar bibles were purchased. Additional doors were put in place to protect the congregation from the cold. The church has gone through several renovations, the latest took place between 2003 and 2006.
The church bells were sacrificed in 1941, being melted for the war effort. One of the bells dating from 1611 was retained. When the American forces came through Oberkalbach on 5 April 1945, this bell was shot at and damaged in the attack. New bells were placed in 1950. The organ pipes also were victims for the war effort.
At church services, men and women sat in separate sections of pews. Young people were instructed in catechism classes and then confirmed when they were about 13 or 14. In earlier times, church activity held a more prominent place in the lives of the villagers, but in the 1900's the majority of younger people were not regular churchgoers except during preparation for confirmation. It is common for church members to be at church at their baptism, marriage, and funeral and on special religious holidays, but today religion does not play a major part in their daily lives, except among the older population. I've heard it said that some Germans have requested excommunication in order to avoid paying the church tax that the government imposes on them.
During World War II, some Catholic families came to Oberkalbach because they were evacuated from their homes in the Rhein-Main area to avoid the heavy bombings. After the war, 20 Catholic families (about 80 people), refugees from eastern Europe who were driven from their homes, came to live in Oberkalbach. In 1946, the Lutheran pastor of Oberkalbach arranged for the Catholic priest from Mittelkalbach to conduct Catholic services in the Lutheran church each Sunday at 11 a.m. following the Lutheran services. The Lutheran pastor even located a moped for the priest to use in commuting between the villages. The numbers of Lutherans versus Catholics is less dramatic now than in former years. Interfaith marriages are not uncommon.
Before the beginning of civil records, the churches were the official record keepers for births, marriages and deaths. In the Oberkalbach area, civil records for births, deaths and marriages began to be kept in 1875. However, civil registration of marriage protocols began much earlier in the late 1600s.
Villagers walking home in their Sunday best clothes on the main street of Oberkalbach in the early 1900's after church services in the Lutheran Church which is just past the house on the left side of the street. The small building on the right is one of the many community baking houses in the village.
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Copyright 2000 - 2022 by Sue (Ursula Kaiser) Foster. Please contact me for permission to copy.
I would like to know why you are interested in this information :-)
Copyright 2000 - 2022 by Sue (Ursula Kaiser) Foster. Please contact me for permission to copy.
I would like to know why you are interested in this information :-)