St. Fabian und St. Sebastian

Could a church be more than just bricks and mortar? St. Fabian und St. Sebastian in Rensefeld whispers tales of resilience and transformation. This isn’t just a building. It’s a living testament to centuries of faith, echoing the stories of its patron saints, Fabian and Sebastian. St. Fabian und St. Sebastian, consecrated on their shared martyrdom day, January 20th, likely in 1163, stands as the oldest structure in Bad Schwartau. Imagine the scene in 1177 when Bishop Heinrich I gifted half of Rensefeld, including the church, to the newly founded Johanniskloster in Lübeck. This act cemented St. Fabian und St. Sebastian’s place in the region’s history. Decades later, in 1234, the church faced destruction at the hands of disgruntled Lübeck citizens. The subsequent rebuilding, adding northern and southern transepts, literally reshaped its form, creating the cross-shaped layout we see hints of today. The original brick tower, replaced in 1693 by Italian architect Antonio Petri with a fieldstone structure, speaks to the church’s evolving identity. The patchwork repairs over the centuries, using different sized bricks, give the tower its unique, mottled appearance. Fast forward to 1902. Workers, scraping away old paint, uncovered a vibrant fresco of the Last Judgment, dating back to the late 14th or early 15th century. Christ sits on a rainbow, flanked by saints like Catherine of Alexandria and Bartholomew, with angels sounding trumpets and the dead rising to judgment. This rediscovered artwork, carefully preserved, offers a glimpse into the church’s rich artistic heritage. The renovations of 1902 also revealed gothic ornamental paintings and restored the Renaissance-era pulpit and galleries to their former glory. A hidden inscription, deciphered by archivist Paul Ewald Hasse, revealed that Lübeck councilman Johann Spangenberg had gifted the pulpit’s canopy in 1583. More recently, the renovations of 1965-1968 brought significant changes. A new oak ceiling replaced the old, and a glass wall now encloses the north chapel, creating a space for intimate worship. The colorful stained-glass window in the apse, depicting the Last Supper, adds a modern touch to this ancient space. St. Fabian und St. Sebastian continues to evolve. Recent renovations, prompted by electrical updates, revealed and addressed structural damage in the tower, ensuring the church’s continued presence in the Rensefeld landscape. Each layer of change, each restoration, each rediscovered artwork, adds to the rich tapestry of St. Fabian und St. Sebastian’s story. It stands not just as a place of worship, but as a tangible link to the past, whispering stories of faith, resilience, and the enduring power of community.