Wonder why those farmers carted fieldstones up this hill centuries ago? They were building the Dorfkirche Booßen. This isn’t just any church. It’s a story etched in stone and timber.
Welcome to the Dorfkirche Booßen in Frankfurt Oder. It is a testament to resilience and faith. Its history began in the early 13th century. Askanian settlers arrived and required farmers to haul fieldstones. These stones became the foundation of the first church around 1250. This early structure served as a defensive church.
In 1317, Markgraf Waldemar officially mentioned the village of Boz, now Booßen. He transferred it to Frankfurt Oder. The church evolved over time. Around 1370, it expanded westward with a short nave. The Dorfkirche Booßen acquired a slightly off-center tower around 1480. A sacristy appeared on the north side of the chancel around 1545. Later, a porch was added to the chancel’s south side.
The Thirty Years’ War devastated the Dorfkirche Booßen. Only the outer walls remained. In 1671, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. A new altar and pulpit arrived in 1871. The Dorfkirche Booßen underwent a complete redesign in 1961. The neo-Gothic altar from 1871 was removed. So were the galleries along the long sides. The original seating from 1671 also disappeared. The church was rededicated on November 11, 1962.
Step inside the Dorfkirche Booßen. Notice the wooden barrel-vaulted ceiling in the nave. The west and south walls feature galleries. A late-Gothic fitting marks the entrance to the sacristy. The organ stands proudly on the west gallery. It was installed in 1844. The barrel vault was needed to accommodate the organ. The same builder crafted the organ in Kliestow Church.
Look for the life-size colored wooden crucifix. It dates back to around 1490. Two panels from 1671 depict the crucifixion and burial of Christ. Reliefs of the evangelists Matthew and John are on the south side. A sculpture of “Christ on the Dragon” resides in the sacristy. This may have been part of the altar.
The Dorfkirche Booßen stands as an open church. It welcomes all. It has survived wars, redesigns, and changing times. It embodies the enduring spirit of Booßen. Take a moment to appreciate the layers of history. They shaped this sacred space. Consider the generations who sought solace and community within these walls. The Dorfkirche Booßen is more than a building. It’s a living record of faith and perseverance.