Mutterhauskirche

Did the imposing round tower of Mutterhauskirche in Wuerzburg always look this way? No. The original steep, diamond-shaped roof, reminiscent of the local Adalberokirche, was replaced with a flatter, pyramidal structure after the war. This striking alteration is just one chapter in the story of this remarkable church. Mutterhauskirche, also known as Klosterkirche St. Joseph, stands quietly on Ebracher Gasse. It serves as the motherhouse church of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Redeemer. Its story begins long before the laying of the first stone on May 18, 1895. As early as 1856, the sisters, then residing on Kettengasse, utilized a small chapel. This chapel, consecrated by Bishop Georg Anton von Stahl, was expanded in 1869 to accommodate the growing congregation. Yet, the continuous growth necessitated a larger, dedicated space, leading to the construction of the Mutterhauskirche. Architect Joseph Schmitz, known for his work with local church building associations, was commissioned for the project. The church was completed and consecrated on July 28, 1897, exactly two years after the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Franz Joseph von Stein. The sisters, numbering 650 at the time, moved into their new motherhouse on Ebracher Gasse on September 29, 1897. Mutterhauskirche’s design reflects the Rhenish Romanesque style of the 13th century, similar to the Adalberokirche. Constructed with Franconian shell limestone for the exterior and red sandstone for the interior, its layout forms a Latin cross. The church features a single-nave long house intersected by a two-bay transept. A single-bay choir with an apse is flanked by a single-story sacristy to the east and a three-story tower to the west. Originally, galleries filled the long house and transepts, a common feature in convent churches. The western arm of the transept served as a chapel, while the eastern arm housed three confessionals. The church endured significant damage during the bombing of Wuerzburg on March 16, 1945. The subsequent reconstruction, led by Eugen Altenhofer from 1948 to 1952, brought notable changes. Besides the tower’s new roof, the lower windows on the east facade were bricked up. The adjoining buildings were rebuilt in a different arrangement, altering the north facade and making it possible to relocate the entrance vestibule and reclaim space for the sanctuary. The interior also underwent extensive alterations after the war. Some original furnishings were lost, while others deemed outdated were removed. The choir was remodeled, and a glass mosaic altar wall was installed. In 2020, a major renovation further transformed the Mutterhauskirche. The altar was moved to the center of the sanctuary, surrounded by chairs for the congregation. This new wooden altar, crafted in the workshops of Münsterschwarzach Abbey, now holds relics of Saint Kilian, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Blessed Mother Alfons Maria Eppinger. It also contains 1,500 profession crosses of deceased sisters. The transformation of Mutterhauskirche reflects not only changing architectural styles but also the evolving needs and traditions of the Sisters of the Redeemer.