A weathered stone whispers tales of resilience. This is the St.-Juergen-Kapelle in Luebeck. It stands proudly a testament to Lubeck’s enduring spirit.
The St.-Juergen-Kapelle you see before you is not the original. Its predecessor a simple rectangular building with a distinctive stepped gable existed since 1290. It was part of the city’s leper hospital. This first chapel was enriched by the generosity of wealthy Luebeck citizens. By 1411 it saw expansions and embellishments. A magnificent wooden statue of St. Juergen crafted by Henning von der Heyde was added in 1505. This statue survived a terrible event.
During the turbulent reign of Juergen Wullenwever the chapel suffered a devastating fate. On October 14 1534 enraged supporters of the mayor ransacked and looted both the chapel and the leper hospital. Most of the artwork and furnishings were destroyed. The building was severely damaged. Miraculously the precious St. Juergen statue was saved. Its accompanying dragon however was not so lucky.
Remarkably the statue reappeared in 1541 in the estate of Johann Sengestake. He was a merchant elevated to councilman during Wullenwever’s time and allegedly involved in the riots. The chapel and hospital were painstakingly restored between 1540 and 1542. The statue of St. Juergen was restored. Sculptor Hinrich Wittekop carved a replacement dragon. However the new dragon was noticeably smaller than the other figures.
The Thirty Years’ War prompted Luebeck’s council to fortify the city. Expanding the bastions near the Muhlentor necessitated demolishing the St.-Juergen-Kapelle and its hospital. The decision faced strong opposition. Some even cited ominous signs. Superintendent Nikolaus Hunnius claimed the devil appeared to him interpreting this as a bad omen. Despite this the council didn’t change its mind. Domprediger Albert Reimers delivered the final sermon on March 16 1629. Then the old chapel was demolished.
Fifteen years later a new St.-Juergen-Kapelle rose less than a kilometer from its old site. Completed in 1646 by city architect Andreas Jeger it blended elements of late Renaissance and early Baroque styles with Gothic touches. The church a Greek cross design features a separate wooden bell tower. This tower houses the oldest post-Reformation bell in Luebeck. Cast in 1548 by Karsten Middeldorp it survived the demolition of the original chapel.
For two centuries the chapel served the hospital residents. It was a branch of Luebeck Cathedral lacking its own congregation. Following the hospital’s closure in 1847 the chapel fell into disuse. However from 1880 it was revived. Bible studies and regular services were held. Attendance increased after heating in 1882 and gas lighting in 1885 were installed. In 1886 the Luebeck Senate granted the chapel its own organ.
In 1961 the St.-Juergen-Kapelle became an independent parish church. This lasted until 2002 when it merged with other local churches. The former St.-Juergen schoolhouse built in 1834 served as the parish house. The St.-Juergen-Kapelle a survivor of destruction and neglect stands as a powerful symbol of faith and resilience in Luebeck’s rich history.