Centuries of history are etched into the very stones of St. Egidien. St. Egidien stands before us. It is Nuremberg’s only Baroque church. But its story stretches back much further.
The first church on this site was likely built between 1120 and 1130. It stood on the grounds of Nuremberg’s second royal court. Royal courts managed royal lands. They oversaw agriculture and forestry. This gave the church royal status.
Around 1140, Emperor Conrad III and his wife Gertrud elevated the church. They made it a Benedictine abbey. They generously provided for it. Carus became the first Abbot of St. Egidien. He was also the Abbot of the Scots Monastery in Regensburg. The monastery became wealthy quickly. It answered only to the Holy Roman Emperor. The first monks came from the Scots Monastery and St. James’s Abbey.
Originally, St. Egidien was a three-aisled basilica. It was built in the Romanesque style. But by 1418, the monastery had fallen on hard times. It was deeply in debt. The altar vessels were even mortgaged. The Scots Monastery could no longer cover the debt. German Benedictines from Reichenbach took over. The monastery was partly rebuilt. The church and chapels were renovated. The Irish monks had to adapt or leave.
In 1525, during the Reformation, the monastery was shut down. Its lands were given to the city. After the Peace of Augsburg, there were attempts to restore it. Scottish Bishop John Lesley tried in 1578 for Mary, Queen of Scots. From 1629 to 1631, a commission from Bamberg also tried.
Disaster struck on July 6 and 7, 1696. A fire destroyed the monastery and St. Egidien church.
The church was rebuilt in the Baroque style. The cornerstone was laid on October 14, 1711. Johann Trost and Gottlieb Trost were the architects. It became Nuremberg’s largest construction project. Donato Polli created the stucco decorations. Daniel Preisler and Johann Martin Schuster painted the frescos.
World War II brought more destruction. An air raid on January 2, 1945, severely damaged St. Egidien. The roof collapsed. The outer walls were badly damaged. Reconstruction took place from 1946 to 1959. Rudolf Gröschel led the work. The rebuild was economical. Reconstructing the ornate Baroque interior was too expensive.
St. Egidien has six bells in its towers. They were cast in 1959 and 1965. They fill the square with their sound.
Music has always been important here. The first organ was installed in 1460. Many famous organists have played at St. Egidien. These include Johann Erasmus Kindermann and Wilhelm Hieronymus Pachelbel. The current organ was installed in 1963.
Today, St. Egidien stands as a testament to resilience. It showcases Baroque architecture. It overcame fire and war. It is a symbol of Nuremberg’s enduring spirit.