How many secrets do you think these old fieldstones hold? We are standing before the Dorfkirche Glasow. It is a testament to time and faith. This simple rectangular building has witnessed centuries of change. Its walls whisper tales of villagers. They have seen wars and celebrations. The Dorfkirche Glasow is more than just a church. It is a landmark of Glasow’s history.
Glasow was first mentioned in 1375 as “Glase/Glaze”. The name possibly comes from the Slavic word for “large stone”. This area was rich in stones. The spelling with “-ow” appeared in the 15th century. It was likely an adjustment to neighboring place names. Another theory suggests a citizen family named Glase. The family may have named themselves after the village. Or perhaps the village was named after them.
In 1375, Glasow had 43 hides of land. Four were tax-free for the parish. Five belonged to Heyne Karre and were almost tax-free. The remaining 34 hides paid six measures each of rye and oats as rent. They also paid two and a half shillings as tax. There was a dispute over whether interest had to be paid. Heyne Karre claimed two shillings interest was due from each hide. The farmers argued that no interest had ever been paid.
The Dorfkirche Glasow has layered masonry. It features moderately well-squared fieldstones. Some are just split. They are set in a thick bed of mortar. There are regular intermediate layers. Several matching fieldstone halves lie directly next to each other. The small number of openings is remarkable.
The Dorfkirche Glasow is a simple rectangular fieldstone building. It measures 16.05 meters by 8.50 meters. A wooden framework roof tower was added later to the west. The eaves height of the nave is approximately 5.20 meters. The lower part of the walls consists of relatively well-hewn fieldstones. They are cube-shaped and of relatively uniform size. These are layered. The large horizontal joints are wedged with many flat stone fragments. The careful squaring of the fieldstones diminishes towards the top. The fieldstones are just split higher up. They sit in a thick mortar bed. Some matching halves can be seen directly next to each other. The corner stones are well-hewn and interlocked.
The Dorfkirche Glasow’s north side has two large arched windows made of brick. They feature thick plaster strips. One window is in the nave area. The other is in the chancel area. Part of the plaster has weathered off the nave window. The bricks there measure 24 x ? x 6 cm. The east side shows only a bricked-up, high, pointed arch window. Its arch consists of flat, poorly hewn fieldstone shards. They stand perpendicular to the arch. It measures 1.20 m x 3.50 m. It extends over the eaves height into the gable. A small arched window made of large bricks is halfway up the gable.
On the south side, the pointed priest’s door is bricked up. The arch stones are not carefully hewn. They vary greatly in thickness. The Dorfkirche Glasow’s portal sits in an area with irregular masonry. A plaster area was likely around the jamb. The portal is mostly filled with gravestone blocks. The three windows on the south side are arched. They are made of bricks. One window is in the chancel area. The other two are in the nave area.
The square tower is placed on the west side of the gable roof. Its west side consists of fieldstones. The other sides are made of brick framework. The octagonal, closed tower has a conical roof. A weather vane with the year 1846 is on top. The tower has a sound opening on the west side. Inside, the Dorfkirche Glasow has a smooth plaster ceiling.
Major construction work occurred on the Dorfkirche Glasow in 1672. The windows were likely enlarged. They received an arched finish. The middle window on the east side was closed. The half-timbered tower was built. The current church tower dates back to 1846.
In July 2000, the Dorfkirche Glasow was closed due to the danger of collapse. The roof structure had sagged. The roof was renovated in the spring of 2002. The church was rededicated on June 30, 2002. Further renovations took place in the spring of 2003.
The Dorfkirche Glasow stands as a reminder of Glasow’s past. It is a symbol of resilience and faith. Its stones tell a story. It is a story of a village. It is also a story of its people.