Georgskapelle

“A sanctuary of hope,” whispered a weathered stone of Georgskapelle, “for those touched by suffering.” Georgskapelle stands as a testament to resilience. It has witnessed centuries of human experience. This chapel, also known as “Siechenkapelle St. Georg”, isn’t just Bad Schwartau’s second oldest building after St. Fabian Church in Rensefeld. It’s a time capsule. It holds echoes of both despair and renewal. Georgskapelle’s story begins in 1258. Bishop Johannes II of Diest established a “Domus leprosum” here. This was a sanctuary for those afflicted with leprosy. The residents lived a monastic life. A dedicated chapel was added in 1289. As leprosy waned, the original siechenhaus fell into disrepair by the mid-15th century. The Reformation saw its transformation into a haven for the elderly and impoverished. The Georgskapelle we see today rose from the foundations of the 1289 chapel in 1508. Its journey has been one of constant adaptation. During the Napoleonic Wars, it even served as a stable. Its dilapidated state forced its closure in 1813. Renovations in 1839 allowed for quarterly services. Its altar, the “Schwartauer Altar,” was moved to the Amtshaus in 1844. The chapel’s purpose shifted again. It became a shelter for the homeless in 1845 and a soup kitchen in 1847. In 1857, with the closure of the Schwartauer Siechenhaus, Georgskapelle became the property of the Schwartau community. They sold it to the Free Irish Community in 1877. It returned to its sacred purpose as a place of worship. The community repurchased and renovated Georgskapelle in 1888. The Schwartauer Altar returned in 1901. It was later loaned to the St. Annen Museum in Lübeck for a decade in 1926. In 1937, Georgskapelle found its home with the church community. Post-World War II renovations revitalized the chapel. It resumed its role as a space for worship. Today, Georgskapelle continues to serve the Evangelisch-Lutheran community of Bad Schwartau. A wooden campanile was added in 2008. It stands as a modern counterpoint to the chapel’s ancient stones. Georgskapelle’s story reminds us that even in the face of adversity, hope and community endure.