Imagine a time when Catholicism was forbidden in Dresden. That’s the story of the Alte Kapelle. It stands on the Old Catholic Cemetery. This cemetery is one of Dresden’s oldest burial grounds. It became Dresden’s first Catholic cemetery after the Reformation in 1724.
The history of the Alte Kapelle and the cemetery began with political maneuvering. August the Strong converted to Catholicism in 1697 to gain the Polish crown. This led to an influx of Catholic artists and officials. Prince Friedrich August II married Maria Josepha of Austria in 1719. August hoped this alliance would counter the growing power of Prussia. Maria Josepha insisted that her Catholic servants be buried in their own cemetery.
Before this, Catholics had to be buried far away. They were buried at St. Marienstern Abbey or in Bohemia. If they could not afford that, they were buried in Protestant cemeteries against their beliefs. August the Strong ordered the creation of Dresden’s first Catholic cemetery on October 2, 1720. To avoid conflicts with the Protestant population, it was located outside the city in the Kammergut Ostra. This area was not appealing. Catholics could only be buried here under certain conditions. They had to be part of Maria Josepha’s court or her staff. Deaths had to be reported to the city council. Burials had to be quiet. August the Strong forbade any changes to the cemetery or the building of a chapel. This showed a lack of respect for the cemetery at the time. August remained the head of the Protestant Church, despite his Catholicism.
August issued decrees in 1723. These stated that no burial fees should be paid to Protestant clergy for burials in the Catholic cemetery. Catholics from the King’s and Prince’s court could be buried here, but they had to pay the fee. A list of Catholics at the Saxon court was presented to the Evangelical Secret Consistory each year.
The first burial took place on February 16, 1724. Johann Carl Philipp Molteno, an Italian actor, was buried here. Twenty-seven more burials followed that year. In 1738, Friedrich August II allowed all Catholics to be buried in the cemetery. People from Neustadt, Leipzig and nearby areas were also allowed.
The Alte Kapelle is part of the Alter Katholischer Friedhof. It soon became too small. It was expanded in 1740 and 1742. August the Strong’s decree to keep the cemetery unchanged was lifted in 1738. Bishop Franz Laurenz Mauermann expanded the cemetery to its current size in 1842. The Michaelskapelle was built on the new land that same year. It was consecrated on September 7, 1842. In 1914, an extension was added. Balthasar Permoser’s crucifixion group was placed there. A new portal with Matthias Corr’s relief of Christ Carrying the Cross was added. Two memorial crosses for members of the Wettin royal family stand near the entrance.
Extensive renovations to the gatehouse and cemetery wall were completed in 1995. The Alte Kapelle stands as a testament to Dresden’s complex religious history. It reflects the struggles and compromises of a city finding its identity.