Imagine stepping back in time over a millennium. That is how far back the history of Stephanskirche in Konstanz stretches. Today, we stand before this former collegiate and parish church. It is located in Konstanz’s old town.
Stephanskirche is considered the oldest church foundation in Konstanz. Its origins trace back to the late Roman era. The site lies south of the early settlement. Later, it was outside the cathedral district. Historians suggest the earliest structure was either a secular market. Perhaps it was a courthouse or a cemetery church.
By the time the Bishopric of Konstanz was founded in the late 6th century, a house of worship already stood here. It was dedicated to Saint Stephen. This early Stephanskirche might have been a wooden structure.
The first documented mention of Stephanskirche is from 680 in the Gallus-Vita. Around 900, a regulated community of clergy settled at St. Stephan. This was a collegiate foundation. During the Hungarian invasion in 926, the pre-Romanesque church was damaged or destroyed. Bishop Noting likely restored it. At that time, a market already existed near the church. Remember that the church was still outside the walled city.
From the 11th century, the market and artisan settlement around St. Stephan grew significantly. It was integrated into the city. The collegiate church also served as the parish church. It was the largest parish in Konstanz. Around 1130, the old church was transformed into a Romanesque basilica. Its portal faced the main street on the east side. The square choir with the main altar was in the west. The nave was approximately its current size. The aisles were half as wide.
From the 13th century, Stephanskirche became a civic and market church. It symbolized patrician self-confidence. This was in contrast to the bishop’s cathedral area. The canons largely came from urban citizen families. These families also buried their leading members here.
During the Council of Constance from 1414 to 1418, St. Stephan hosted the appellate court. It was known as the Roman Rota. Extensive expansion work began in 1428. It continued for three-quarters of a century. This gave the exterior its present appearance. The aisles were doubled in width. The nave was lengthened by three meters. The church was now oriented to the east. A polygonal choir was added on the east side. The clerestory windows received Gothic tracery. Construction of the tower began in 1483. It was added to the south. These efforts reflected chronic financial constraints. The Gothic style was limited. Simple early Gothic forms were used.
The Reformation arrived early in Konstanz. It came from Zurich. In the free imperial city, it was associated with opposition to the bishop’s influence. From 1527, St. Stephan was Zwinglian. The canons were expelled. All the furnishings fell victim to iconoclasm. This included images, statues, liturgical books, and vessels. Ulrich Zwingli himself preached in St. Stephan in December 1529.
After the defeat of the Schmalkaldic League in 1548, Konstanz was re-Catholicized. It was under Habsburg rule. From 1550, St. Stephan was Catholic again. The canons returned. The city’s diminished importance and the Thirty Years’ War prevented significant artistic re-furnishing.
From the mid-17th to mid-18th centuries, only essential maintenance was carried out at St. Stephan. A new impulse came in 1763. The Weingarten Abbey donated Nicholas and Stephen relics. Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of merchants, was a secondary patron. He was associated with St. Stephan from around the 15th century. From 1770, a thorough renovation of the church began. This involved partial Baroque styling. The choir received a bright stucco ceiling. Franz Ludwig Herrmann added a colorful ceiling painting. This gave a completely new spatial effect.
In 1807, the Stephansstift was dissolved. The church remained a Catholic parish church. Since then, structural changes have been minor. They mainly served to secure the building. The 19th century added to the interior. It was in the spirit of the Neo-Gothic style. At the beginning of the 20th century, a new ceiling made of larch wood was installed. Freiburg sculptor Joseph Dettlinger decorated it with wood reliefs.
Today, as you stand here, consider the layers of history. Think about the people who have passed through its doors. Stephanskirche stands as a testament to faith and resilience. It reflects the enduring spirit of Konstanz.