Dedicated in 1913, Kirche Altscherbitz stands as a testament to history. This church has seen many transformations. Altscherbitz is a district of Schkeuditz. It is located northwest of Leipzig.
Kirche Altscherbitz began as part of the Landes-, Irren- und Pflegeanstalt. This was the “State, Mental and Nursing Home” of the Prussian Province Merseburg. It was founded on July 1, 1876. The institution was gradually expanded for about one thousand patients.
Initially, priests from Halle held Catholic services monthly starting in 1887. These services took place in the Landesheil- und Pflegeanstalt Altscherbitz. Catholics from Schkeuditz also attended. Protestant services were held too.
Construction of the Anstaltskirche began in 1911. It was inaugurated in 1913. Since then, it has been used for both Protestant and Catholic services. The Kirche Altscherbitz has a varied history. During World War I, it served as a military hospital. In the DDR era, from 1968, it was used as a furniture store. By the late 1980s, it was falling into disrepair. Restoration work began after the Peaceful Revolution to stop the decay.
For the church’s 100th anniversary, the hospital management decided to completely renovate it. The restoration was supervised by Daniela Arnold and the firm Andreas Heil. With support from the hospital and total costs of around 1.5 million euros, Kirche Altscherbitz regained its original appearance by June 2014. The Kirche Altscherbitz is now the spiritual and cultural center of the specialist clinic. It is a place for worship. It is a place for concerts and exhibitions. It is a place for music therapy and quiet reflection. The churchyard, community garden, and paths were redesigned based on historical garden plans.
The historical layout with a flat barrel vault and apse is largely preserved. Stencil paintings of foliage and tendrils with depictions of evangelists decorate the ceiling. The church features an altar, pulpit, baptismal font, and historical pews. Additional pews were recreated and placed on the side gallery.
The organ on the west gallery was made by Ernst Röver. The workshop equipped the organ with their invention, the pneumatic box slide. It has two manuals, a pedal, and 19 registers with 972 organ pipes. The organ front is unusually designed. Unlike usual, no pipes are visible.
The Kirchenkuratorium was founded in 2004. It plans, coordinates, and realizes events in the Kirche Altscherbitz. It also organizes diverse events for patients, staff, and Schkeuditz citizens. Annual highlights include the opening concerts of the Schkeuditz Culture Days. Another highlight are the Christmas concerts by the Schkeuditz Singekreis. The Kirche Altscherbitz is not owned by a parish. Instead, it belongs to the specialist clinic. The Schkeuditz parish uses it within the Torgau-Delitzsch church district of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany.
The Kirche Altscherbitz is a hall church. It is a plastered building with a three-sided east end. It features round-arched windows, a vestibule with a roof turret, and chapel-like additions. The interior has a flat vaulted ceiling. It has a painted choir and two-sided, single-story gallery. The Kirche Altscherbitz stands in a park. It is a place of peace and reflection. The Kirche Altscherbitz is not accessible all the time.
Remember the journey of the Kirche Altscherbitz. It has transformed from a place of worship to a military hospital, furniture store, and finally back to its original glory.