Johanneskirche

Queen Elisabeth’s generous donation in 1307 marks a pivotal moment in the Johanneskirche’s history. This document reveals a pre-existing chapel. It was dedicated to St John. The exact St John remains unclear. Was it the Baptist or the Evangelist? The document mentions St Sebald’s parish. The Johanneskirche we see today was built later. The chapel was consecrated in 1377. The altar was dedicated to several saints including St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist. The nave was consecrated 18 years later in 1395. The church’s basic structure remains unchanged. A sacristy was added in 1446. A covered walkway connected the leper colony to the church. This ensured the colony’s inhabitants could attend services separately. The church had two entrances. The southern one was later bricked up. This niche became an altar. The Johanneskirche may seem large for a leper colony. Medieval religious thinking didn’t consider need in the same way. Two side galleries were added later. These accommodated the increasing number of burials. The last tombstone was removed in 1811. The term cemetery chapel is often associated with the Johanneskirche. In the medieval sense chapel and church distinction was primarily based on function. A chapel lacked a parish. St Sebald’s approval was required before construction. The bishop’s confirmation was necessary. Burials and processions were prohibited within the church walls. This was to avoid competition. The Johanneskirche’s status changed with the appointment of a cleric. A small congregation formed. The church remained under St Sebald until the early 19th century. Medieval church construction relied on donations and endowments. Funding shortages caused pauses in building. The Johanneskirche initially lacked a sacristy. A small wooden tower was enclosed by a brown wooden wall. The church received its first pulpit in 1587. This was after the Reformation. Preaching became an essential part of services. The Reformation separated mass and sermon. The two galleries on the north wall were built in 1683/84. They were a temporary solution. They impair the church’s spatial impression. In 1676 a larger organ was installed. The date of the first organ and the organ loft are unknown. The Baroque organ was replaced in 1884. Albrecht Dürer’s 1494 drawing shows the Johanneskirche. The parsonage and the leper colony are depicted beside the church.