Seven hundred thousand bricks. That’s how many it took to build this magnificent structure. This is the Katholische St. Remigius-Kirche Mengede. Imagine the sheer effort. The Katholische St. Remigius-Kirche Mengede stands before you a testament to faith and community.
The Katholische St. Remigius-Kirche Mengede wasn’t always this grand. In the mid-1800s the Catholic community in Mengede outgrew their small church. Driven by Pfarrer Arens and others they raised funds. An initial collection in 1872 brought in 1372 Marks a considerable sum for the time. Count Droste zu Vischering generously donated land in 1873. Architect Gustav Adolf Fischer created plans. Further collections in Paderborn and Münster bolstered the funds. The community contributed too. By 1878 a total of 72861.55 Marks had been collected. Construction began in May 1875. Storms damaged the building. The foundation stone was laid on October 5 1875.
On August 17 1876 the church was consecrated. The ceremony was attended by a large crowd. Even members of other religions participated. Celebrations followed. The Paderborn Bishop was absent due to the Kulturkampf. The church was finally consecrated on September 14 1891.
The Katholische St. Remigius-Kirche Mengede wasn’t finished then. In 1900 and 1901 it was expanded. A 71-meter-high tower was added. Four bells were consecrated on January 6 1901. Three were lost during World War I. New ones were added in 1923. In 1928 the exterior was plastered. A mosaic was added.
World War II brought damage. Two hits in 1942 and the loss of two more bells in 1943. New bells arrived in 1948. Renovations in 1950 altered the chancel. A new altar by sculptor Hartmann replaced the original. In 1965 a new altar was used reflecting liturgical changes. Further renovations in the 1970s modernized the church. New windows and flooring were added. The Katholische St. Remigius-Kirche Mengede underwent various changes throughout its history.
The Katholische St. Remigius-Kirche Mengede stands as a symbol of enduring faith and resilience. It’s a living testament to the community that built it. A place where generations have worshipped. It represents the strength of belief and the perseverance of the human spirit.