Hear the whispers of centuries. Feel the weight of history surrounding you here at the Martinikirche.
This isn’t just any church. The Martinikirche in Münster is one of the oldest Roman Catholic buildings in Westphalia. Its story began around the 1180s. Imagine Münster then a city expanding its boundaries. New parishes were created St Aegidii St Ludgeri St Servatii and our very own St Martini. All were purely city parishes.
Our first solid clue about the Martinikirche appears in 1187. It’s an indirect reference but a clue nonetheless. Then in 1217 Bishop Otto I confirmed five prebends established by Bishop Herman II at St Martini. This act reveals a wealth of information. It shows the church already had significant endowments. Bishop Herman had repurchased a toll for a considerable sum and used part of it to enrich St Martini. The document also lists the archdeaconate and the churches under St Martini’s jurisdiction. A long list it is too including Ennigerloh Ostenfelde and many more. The witnesses to this transaction? The Dean of St Martini the sacristan and several canons.
The church itself evolved. It started as a three-aisled basilica with a western tower. Today only the lower part of that Romanesque tower remains a testament to its ancient past. The basilica nave was later replaced by a three-aisled hall church with round pillars. Around 1380 a long choir was added.
The tower’s story continues. Around 1480 it received two ornate story’s adding to its beauty. Then around 1760 Johann Conrad Schlaun redesigned the tower’s pointed roof replacing it with the Baroque dome you see today. Finally in 1906 twenty impressive sandstone statues were added. Local Münster sculptors created these statues each over two meters tall. They depict saints like St Elisabeth St Katharina and St Martin himself. Look carefully they are a sight to behold.
Even the artwork within the church reflects its history. Johann Bockhorst a Münster artist who worked with Peter Paul Rubens created an altarpiece for St Martini. It depicts the Mass of St Martin. You can see it today at the Münster City Museum.
The Martinikirche wasn’t always a parish church. It was once a collegiate church with a complex internal structure of canons and prebends. Its chapter was only dissolved in 1811. Today though it’s a vibrant youth church the first in the Münster diocese. It’s a testament to the church’s enduring spirit its ability to adapt and remain a center of community life. So step inside. Explore its beauty its rich history its continuing life as a meeting place.