St. Nicolai's Chapel, Hildesheim
Encyclopedia
St. Nicolai's Chapel is a former Catholic parish church in the city of Hildesheim
in Lower Saxony
, Germany
. It is in the southern part of the old city center, opposite St. Godehard's Church.
style in the 12th century at the same time as the monastery of Saint Godehard was built opposite. It was consecrated by Heinrich von Minden, the bishop of Minden
, in 1146. Bernard of Hildesheim
(1130–53), the then bishop of Hildesheim
was not able to consecrate it himself as he had become blind. Saint Nicolai's Chapel was used as a catholic parish church
until 1542 when Protestantism
was introduced in Hildesheim. Many inhabitants of the city, however, did not become Protestants. Saint Nicolai's Chapel, one of the smallest churches in Hildesheim, was allocated to the Protestants, who actually did not need it. The church was not used until 1557, and there were plans to demolish it and to use the stones to repair the medieval city wall. As the monks living opposite the chapel in the monastery of Saint Godehard opposed the plans, Saint Nicolai's Chapel was returned to the Catholic Church in 1557, but it was in very bad condition. It was renovated at various times and used by the monastery until 1803. In 1803, Saint Nicolai's Chapel was sold to a private owner after the monastery had been dissolved during the secularization
and it was transformed into a residential building.
During World War II
, St. Nicolai's Chapel was slightly damaged by bombs on 22 February 1945
. On 22 March 1945
, however, the chapel was hit by incendiary bombs and burnt down. Only the walls remained standing, but the neighbouring half-timbered houses remained almost undamaged. St. Nicolai's Chapel was rebuilt at the beginning of the 1960s and is still used for residential purposes.
with a vault. The apse
with its tented roof
is in the east of the building. A part of the nave is preserved as well. The year 1714, which possibly refers to a renovation, is carved into the sandstone of the southern wall.
The building is on the corner of Hinterer Brühl and Godehardsplatz, two of the most sightworthy streets of Hildesheim, and it is surrounded by half-timbered houses which were built in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The large half-timbered house behind is a former hospital, Hospital zu den Fünf Wunden (Hospital of the Five Wounds
), dating from 1770.
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is in the southern part of the old city center, opposite St. Godehard's Church.
History
Saint Nicolai's Chapel was built in a RomanesqueRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style in the 12th century at the same time as the monastery of Saint Godehard was built opposite. It was consecrated by Heinrich von Minden, the bishop of Minden
Minden
Minden is a town of about 83,000 inhabitants in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The town extends along both sides of the river Weser. It is the capital of the Kreis of Minden-Lübbecke, which is part of the region of Detmold. Minden is the historic political centre of the...
, in 1146. Bernard of Hildesheim
Bernard of Hildesheim
Bernhard or Bernard of Hildesheim was Bishop of Hildesheim from 1130 until 1153 . He achieved the canonization of Gotthard of Hildesheim by Pope Innocent II and founded the basilica St. Godehard in honour of the new Saint at Hildesheim, where he was buried. He is venerated Blessed in the Roman...
(1130–53), the then bishop of Hildesheim
Bishopric of Hildesheim
The Diocese of Hildesheim is a diocese or ecclesiastical territory of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Germany. Founded in 815 as a missionary diocese by King Louis the Pious, his son Louis the German appointed the famous former archbishop of Rheims, Ebbo, as bishop...
was not able to consecrate it himself as he had become blind. Saint Nicolai's Chapel was used as a catholic parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
until 1542 when Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
was introduced in Hildesheim. Many inhabitants of the city, however, did not become Protestants. Saint Nicolai's Chapel, one of the smallest churches in Hildesheim, was allocated to the Protestants, who actually did not need it. The church was not used until 1557, and there were plans to demolish it and to use the stones to repair the medieval city wall. As the monks living opposite the chapel in the monastery of Saint Godehard opposed the plans, Saint Nicolai's Chapel was returned to the Catholic Church in 1557, but it was in very bad condition. It was renovated at various times and used by the monastery until 1803. In 1803, Saint Nicolai's Chapel was sold to a private owner after the monastery had been dissolved during the secularization
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
and it was transformed into a residential building.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, St. Nicolai's Chapel was slightly damaged by bombs on 22 February 1945
Bombing of Hildesheim in World War II
The German city of Hildesheim, ca. 30 kilometres south of Hanover was target of several Allied air raids in 1945.-Hildesheim during World War II:In 1939, Hildesheim had about 72,000 inhabitants...
. On 22 March 1945
Bombing of Hildesheim in World War II
The German city of Hildesheim, ca. 30 kilometres south of Hanover was target of several Allied air raids in 1945.-Hildesheim during World War II:In 1939, Hildesheim had about 72,000 inhabitants...
, however, the chapel was hit by incendiary bombs and burnt down. Only the walls remained standing, but the neighbouring half-timbered houses remained almost undamaged. St. Nicolai's Chapel was rebuilt at the beginning of the 1960s and is still used for residential purposes.
Architecture
Saint Nicolai's Chapel, though today a residential building, is still recognizable as a former church which facaded to the west. It was a comparatively small church consisting of one naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
with a vault. The apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
with its tented roof
Tented roof
A tented roof is a type of roof widely used in 16th and 17th century Russian architecture for churches. It is like a polygonal spire but differs in purpose in that it is typically used to roof the main internal space of a church, rather than an auxiliary structure...
is in the east of the building. A part of the nave is preserved as well. The year 1714, which possibly refers to a renovation, is carved into the sandstone of the southern wall.
The building is on the corner of Hinterer Brühl and Godehardsplatz, two of the most sightworthy streets of Hildesheim, and it is surrounded by half-timbered houses which were built in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The large half-timbered house behind is a former hospital, Hospital zu den Fünf Wunden (Hospital of the Five Wounds
Hospital of the Five Wounds, Hildesheim
The Hospital of the Five Wounds is a half-timbered house in the city of Hildesheim in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is in the southern part of the old city center, opposite St. Godehard's Church and behind St. Nicolai's Chapel.- History :...
), dating from 1770.