Journey back to 1327. The Dorfkirche Hamberge stands before you. It began as a simple chapel. Bishop Heinrich II Bochholt of Lubeck elevated it. He declared it a church. The Dorfkirche Hamberge and the village belonged to the Lubeck Cathedral Chapter until 1804.
Hamberge served as a transit point. It was used by travelers and merchants. They exchanged horses and rested here. Hamberge started as a Slavic village. In 1163, it became property of the Lubeck Cathedral Chapter. Hamberge celebrated its 850th anniversary in 2013.
Notice the church’s architecture. It includes parts of the old chapel in the northeast corner. You can see the original height. Look for the bricked-up semi-circular window. Inside, a cross with a pilgrim symbol is painted on lime. Over time, the Dorfkirche Hamberge was expanded.
In 1721, a major Baroque renovation took place. The master builder Lenck signed a contract. He also created drawings for the Domkapitel. The Domkapitel commissioned a pulpit altar. It came from the Hassenberg workshop in Lubeck. They also ordered a baptismal angel. Both were carefully restored in 2006.
Around 1700, a baptismal font was replaced. A baptismal angel took its place. In 1721, the hall was thoroughly renovated. It was also raised. The Dorfkirche Hamberge got its current form. This happened through the expansion of the building. Johann von Wickede donated the altar combined with the pulpit in 1722. Hassenberg in Lubeck created it.
Otto von Reventlow Sr donated an organ in 1744. It was from Christoph Erdmann Vogel’s workshop in Lubeck. In 1866, Marcussen replaced it with an instrument of his own.
An event changed the Dorfkirche Hamberge forever. In 1957, the old wooden tower caught fire. Flames spread to the roof. Sadly, the old Marcussen organ was destroyed.
Architects Horst Sandtmann and Friedhelm Grundmann designed a new tower. It also included a sacristy and a small vestibule. They moved the entrance to the west. The south portal was bricked up. The community bought two bells. They came from the Rincker brothers in Sinn, Hessen. An electric bell system was installed. The fire-damaged paint was covered in white. Kemper & Son from Lubeck replaced the destroyed organ. A new gallery was built for it. The community renovated the pews. They commissioned the restoration of the altar and baptismal angel. The Dorfkirche Hamberge was rededicated in January 1962.
In 2007, the organ was removed. It had irreparable damage. An electric organ temporarily replaced it. The altar was restored again in 2006 and 2011.
Architect Andreas Vossgrag led a modernization project in 2013/14. It included modernizing the electrics. The lightning protection system and the heating were renovated. The stained-glass windows were restored. The altar base was removed. The organ gallery got a new steel staircase. It also received a metal railing. The entrance in the south wall was reopened.
The historic linden trees were cut down. This was due to safety reasons. New trees were planted in 2019.
Today, the Dorfkirche Hamberge stands as a testament to time. It connects the past with the present. Its walls whisper stories of faith. They speak of resilience and community. Take a moment to appreciate this sacred place.