Completed in 1931 the Magyarok Nagyasszonya-templom stands before you. Its classical style is a testament to a long and complex history. This wasn’t just built overnight.
The idea for a church in this area emerged around 1900. The residents of Tisztviselőtelep wanted a place of worship. They launched a fundraising campaign. Archduke Frederick’s wife Princess Isabella even got involved. They hoped to name it in honor of Emperor Franz Joseph’s upcoming 80th birthday. Franz Joseph supported the project financially.
Enough money was raised by 1913 to commission plans. The chosen style was initially Neoromanesque. Famous Hungarian architect Ödön Lechner even won the design competition. His design reflected a Hungarian style. World War I and Lechner’s death halted construction.
The funds raised before the war became worthless. The Catholic Church and the city helped raise more money. A new competition was held. This time the style had to be classical. The classical style was easier and cheaper to build than a richly ornamented Neoromanesque building. Lechner’s nephew Jenő Lechner won the second competition. He was familiar with the chosen style. He had recently led the restoration of the Hungarian National Museum. The resulting design subtly resembles the Esztergom Basilica. It features Empire elements and Hungarian touches.
Construction began on June 22 1929. The Magyarok Nagyasszonya-templom was finally consecrated on October 8 1931. The church’s proportions are elegant. Its central element is a massive dome. The design uses simple geometric shapes. The overall impression is modern. The dome is made of reinforced concrete a modern material at the time. The facade is largely undecorated. The columns with their leaf-shaped capitals are the most striking features.
Inside the church the green marble columns with their leaf capitals support the galleries and vaults. The tulip motifs a Hungarian touch decorate the capitals. Similar motifs are used on the gates and gallery railings. These tulips also form wreaths around the reliefs of the Evangelists under the dome.
The altar is relatively small. A statue of the Madonna and Child by János Pásztor is its centerpiece. The columns behind the altar are also part of the composition. A Latin inscription under the dome commemorates Emperor Franz Joseph.
Princess Isabella had grander plans. She wanted to place Franz Joseph’s remains under the dome. She envisioned a princely crypt for her family here. None of these plans materialized.
The Magyarok Nagyasszonya-templom stands as a monument. It honors Hungary’s patron saint and the peaceful times of the reign of Franz Joseph. Its history a long road to its completion is reflected in its very design.