St. Peter und Paul

Hidden within Karlsruhe-Durlach, St. Peter und Paul Church holds a captivating story. Why did Durlach, a predominantly Protestant town, need such a grand Catholic church? Let’s unravel this tale together, right here in front of its imposing facade. St. Peter und Paul’s story begins with the Reformation in 1556. Markgraf Karl II introduced Protestantism, making St. Stephanus church the main Protestant place of worship. Yet, after Baden-Durlach and Baden-Baden merged in 1771, the Catholic population in Durlach started to grow again. By 1803, there were 300 Catholics in Durlach. Grand Duke Karl Friedrich granted them the Schlosskapelle in Karlsburg as their church in 1809. The Catholic community gained its own priest in 1811, and in 1822, Grand Duke Ludwig declared it an independent parish. By the mid-1890s, Durlach housed about 2,600 Catholics. The small chapel was no longer sufficient. This led to a significant decision. In early 1895, architect Maximilian Meckel, who was then the building director of the Archdiocese of Freiburg, was commissioned to design a new parish church. This is the very St. Peter und Paul Church we stand before today. The foundation stone of St. Peter und Paul was laid on July 24, 1898, and the church was consecrated on September 24, 1900. It was built upon the site of the former Stadtkelter, the old municipal wine press. The church’s neo-Gothic architecture is a testament to Meckel’s vision. The building consists of a three-aisled nave, a polygonal choir apse, and a four-story bell tower with a copper clock face and a towering octagonal spire. The interior boasts a stunning array of neo-Gothic features, many of which have survived to this day. The high altar, the altars dedicated to Mary and Joseph, the statues of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus are notable examples of this craftsmanship. These were crafted in the Überlingen workshop of the Mezger brothers. The stained-glass windows, created between 1899 and 1921 by various workshops, add to the church’s grandeur. The church also houses a white marble Pietà, crafted by Peter Valentin in 1925 for the war memorial chapel. A Stations of the Cross, including statues of Saint Konrad and Saint Theresa, was created in 1938 by Emil Sutor. More recent additions include the altar table and ambo, crafted in 1984/85 by Munich sculptor Wilhelm Müller. Interestingly, the original organ, built by H. Voit & Söhne in 1902, was replaced in 1965 by an instrument from the Speyer organ workshop of Wolfgang Scherpf. Three of the original four bells were melted down during the First World War, and the fourth was sold. New bells were installed in 1921, which were then replaced in September 2000 by the eight bells you hear today. St. Peter und Paul stands as a symbol of the enduring presence of Catholicism in Durlach. It reminds us of a community’s growth and the power of faith.