Admire St. Elisabeth church. It stands as a testament to faith and community in Würzburg’s Zellerau district. St. Elisabeth is more than just a building. It is a place of gathering, reflection, and history.
This Catholic parish church has a fascinating story. It begins in the 1950s. The Zellerau parish of Heiligkreuz had grown. It had 14000 Catholics. The need for a new church was clear. The community needed to be divided for pastoral care. So St. Elisabeth was established as a new curacy.
Bishop Julius Döpfner established the church foundation on April 5, 1950. State approval followed shortly after on May 3, 1950. The cornerstone was laid on July 18, 1954. The church was consecrated on September 3 and 4, 1955. Bishop Julius Döpfner led the ceremony. The altar area was redesigned in October 1967. This was part of the Second Vatican Council’s liturgical reforms.
However, time took its toll. By 2012, the church’s structure was deteriorating. Attendance was also declining. Some considered demolishing the church, which had around 500 seats. But in early 2015, a decision was made. St. Elisabeth would not be torn down. It would also not undergo major renovations. Instead, it would be maintained for the next 10 to 15 years. After that, the church community would decide its future.
Michael Niedermeier designed the church. Adolf Merettich oversaw construction. It features a steel-reinforced concrete skeleton. The walls are made of Ytong blocks. A shallow gable roof covers the structure. The nave is 35 meters long and 21.5 meters high. Six steel-reinforced concrete frame binders divide and stiffen it. These frames support the ceiling made of prestressed concrete slabs. They stand 19 meters high. The chancel is 8 meters deep and 16.5 meters wide. It is elevated by six steps and built similarly.
Inside St. Elisabeth, the altar is made of marble. It honors St. Elisabeth and was consecrated on September 4, 1955. Otto Sonnleitner created the bronze crucifix. It sits in a niche on the chancel’s front wall in 1956. Below it, two bronze angels rest on a Donaukalkstein throne. Sonnleitner also made these in 1959. Josef Amberg crafted the tabernacle on a Donaukalkstein stele in 1955. The ambo and sedilia are also made of Donaukalkstein. The ambo was made in 1955. The sedilia was made in 1967.
Adam Winter from Mainz created the right side altar. This Marian altar is made of Donaukalkstein. It features a terracotta Schutzmantelmadonna from 1956. A model of St. Elisabeth stands on the altar. Werner Schneider from Munich created the left side altar. This Elisabeth altar has a tabernacle and a ceramic figure of the church’s patron saint in 1957.
Alois Bergmann-Franken from Glattbach created the mosaic of the Stations of the Cross. It is on the right side wall of the nave and dates back to 1958. Frank Pechwitz crafted the baptismal font from shell limestone in 1955. It stands under the gallery. Karl Clobes designed the window on the east wall. The Rothkegel glassworks created it in 1966.
The bell tower holds five bells. The Elisabeth bell rings with a dis’ tone. It has a diameter of 131.1 cm and weighs 1500 kg. The inscription reads: “St. Elisabeth, strengthen us in love.” The Maria bell rings with an fis’ tone. It has a diameter of 108 cm and weighs 850 kg. The inscription reads: “Maria, be our mother.” The Josef bell rings with a gis’ tone. It has a diameter of 104.2 cm and weighs 750 kg. The inscription reads: “St. Josef, bless the work.” The Nepomuk bell rings with a h’ tone. It has a diameter of 96 cm and weighs 620 kg. The inscription reads: “St. Johannes von Nepomuk, help us to the homeland.” The fifth bell rings with an eis” tone. It has a diameter of 85 cm and weighs 430 kg. The inscription reads: “In memory of the fallen and dead.” Schilling in Heidelberg cast all the bells in 1956.
St. Elisabeth stands as a symbol. It embodies the community’s resilience and faith. Its story is one of growth, challenge, and enduring spirit. St. Elisabeth is part of the Parish Community of Heiligkreuz and St. Elisabeth. Together, they serve the spiritual needs of the Zellerau district.