Erected from red bricks and crowned with a copper spire, St. Michael’s tower has watched over Lanstrop for over a century. Today, we’ll explore the story of this striking church. St. Michael stands as a testament to faith and community spirit.
The story of St. Michael begins not with grand designs but with a growing community. In 1897, Lanstrop was part of the parish of Kurl. But the population increased due to industrialization. The Catholic men of Lanstrop and Niederaden wanted their own place to worship. They asked the priest in Kurl to hold services in Lanstrop. He agreed. Soon, a rented barn became a makeshift chapel. The first service was held in this humble space on June 1, 1898.
A local nobleman, Freiherr von Wenge-Wulffen, donated land for a proper church. In the early 1900s, plans began to take shape for the construction of a new church. Architect Hermann Wielers initially proposed a neo-Gothic church without a tower. However, the church board rejected this design. Wielers then created a new design. It featured a complete Romanesque hall church with a tower.
In 1910, Lanstrop became an independent parish. Building its own church became a symbol of this new independence. Construction started after the church board approved Wielers’ design. The cornerstone was laid on October 6, 1912. Local companies were hired for the construction. Parishioners donated to enhance the church’s interior and exterior.
After just a year of construction, St. Michael was finished. The consecration took place on September 28, 1913. This day was the feast day of the Archangel Michael. The total cost of the new church was over 81,000 marks.
St. Michael is a three-aisled, Romanesque hall church. It features a side tower on the east side. A chapel with a semicircular apse extends to the west. The towering nave is flanked by side aisles. The walls are made of brick. They are structured by buttresses and arched windows. Sandstone details give the church a robust character. The south side has three portals. The main portal has a sculpture of St. Michael. Above it is a rose window divided into six sections. The striking side tower is divided into four segments. The bell chamber houses three bells.
The bells of St. Michael have a turbulent history. Shortly before the church was completed, three bells were ordered. They were consecrated to St. Michael, St. Mary, and St. Francis. During World War I, the two largest bells were melted down for war materials. Only the smallest bell remained. In 1926, two new bells were installed. But they also met the same fate in World War II. Two new bells were acquired in 1968.
The east-facing tower of St. Michael is visible from afar. It serves as a landmark. St. Michael continues to be the center of the community. A major renovation took place in the mid-1980s. The current interior design largely dates from this time. Key features include the high altar from the church’s original construction. Also note the painting “Mary Magdalene on Easter Morning” by Sieger Köder. It has adorned the church since 2003. St. Michael embodies the spirit of Lanstrop. It binds together faith, history and community.