Why does this peaceful village church look so old? This is the Dorfkirche Krummensee. It stands as a testament to centuries of history and faith. The Dorfkirche Krummensee is located in Krummensee. Krummensee is part of Werneuchen in the Barnim district. The church’s congregation belongs to the Barnim church district. This district is part of the Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia.
The Dorfkirche Krummensee is a fieldstone church. It dates back to the 13th century. The church tower was added later. That was in the 14th or 15th century. The interior was redesigned in 1866. The neo-Gothic pulpit altar also dates from 1866.
Let’s step closer to appreciate its architectural details. The Dorfkirche Krummensee was likely influenced by Lehnin Monastery. The core structure shows careful masonry. It suggests support from the Cistercians residing there. In the 14th or 15th century, a west tower was added to the structure. Otto and Albrecht von Krummensee held the church patronage in 1542. A visitation that year mentioned a chalice. Records from 1600 mention two tin candlesticks. They also mention a chasuble and a missal.
The parish grew significantly by the mid-19th century. Craftsmen added two transepts to the nave’s long sides in 1866. The interior was also refurnished at the same time. A figure of Moses from the 17th century was moved to the Strausberg local history museum in 1935. Sadly, it disappeared after World War II.
During the metal donation of the German people in 1942, the parish had to surrender two of its three medieval bells. These smaller bells measured 70 and 74 cm in diameter. Restoration work took place from 1996 to 1998. This revealed stencil paintings in the transepts.
Notice the core structure. It is built from hewn and layered fieldstones. The chancel is straight and not retracted. The eastern chancel wall features a lancet triforium. Its reveals are highlighted with reddish brick. These extend into the gable. An oculus framed in brick is centered there. The north and south chancel walls lack windows. The stones are less hewn in the upper area. The lines also run differently there.
The transepts dominate the nave. They are constructed of reddish brick. They are closed on the west and east sides. The north and south sides each have a lancet triforium. These also feature an elevated pointed arch and an oculus in the gable. A cross sits above each.
The square west tower measures eight meters wide and six meters long. It was built from uncut fieldstones. Hewn, light-colored cornerstones emphasize its outlines. Access is through a pointed arch portal. Its jambs are made of light limestone. The upper area is profiled. A pointed arch window is on the north and south sides of the ground floor. The floor above has a depressed segmental arch opening only on the south side. The belfry of the 22.2 m high tower has round-arched sound arcades. There is one on the north and south sides. There are two on the west and east sides. This connects to the transverse rectangular gable roof. The gables are adorned with triple staggered pointed arch blind panels.
Most of the church’s furnishings date from the 1866 renovation. This includes the neo-Gothic wooden pulpit. It has a polygonal design. The baptismal font with a seven-sided cup is 98 cm high. It was made of limestone in the 15th century. A sacrament niche is in the chancel wall. There is a gallery in the western area. Inside, the structure has a tent-like wooden ceiling. An epitaph commemorates Moritz August Röbel. He died on January 22, 1593. A medieval bell with a diameter of 91 cm remains in the tower.
Take a moment to reflect on the Dorfkirche Krummensee. Its stones have witnessed centuries of change. They have witnessed faith and community.