Consider the story of survival and faith embodied in the Pfarre Gersthof – St. Leopold. We stand before a testament to community spirit. It is a symbol of enduring hope. This church has a captivating story.
The Pfarre Gersthof – St. Leopold stands in Vienna’s 18th district. It is dedicated to St. Leopold. The church is a Roman Catholic parish church. Its location is Bischof-Faber-Platz 7. The parish is part of the Währing development area. This is in the City Deanery 18, Vienna City Vicariate.
Originally, the parish used the Johannes-Nepomuk-Kapelle. This was until 1891. Then, the Gersthof Church became the parish church. The parish was established in 1783. It was formed from part of the Währing parish district. Over the years, the parish boundaries were adjusted. Areas from Weinhaus, Hernals, Pötzleinsdorf, and Dornbach were added.
Around 1736, Hofkriegsrat Matthäus Lidl von Schwanau had the Nepomukkapelle built. It was in the wine-growing settlement of Gersthof. After the Seven Years’ War, the economic situation was dire. Even becoming a parish in 1783 did not bring immediate relief.
The community rallied in the 19th century. They worked to sustain the parish. Gersthof’s population grew. The chapel became too small. There was a need for a larger church.
In 1884, Dr. Ignaz Winkelmayer became pastor. He founded a church building association. The association quickly raised funds. Construction began on September 11, 1887. The new church was built on the former Gersthof cemetery. It was consecrated to St. Leopold. Feldbischof Dr. C. Belopotoczky consecrated it on November 15, 1891.
The Pfarre Gersthof – St. Leopold is a neo-Gothic brick church. It bears a resemblance to St. Leopold in Donaufeld. The church has a small park with greenery. Sharp spires and corner towers dominate the design. A central bell tower rises above the main portal. The interior is simple. Elegant vaults and five painted windows in the apse stand out. Round pillars with octagonal capitals separate the main nave from the side aisles.
Richard Jordan designed the high altar. It features figures of saints. These include Leopold, Francis of Assisi, Elisabeth of Thuringia, Teresa of Ávila, and John of Nepomuk. Ferdinand Stuflesser created a sculpture of St. Cecilia of Rome. The organ was built in 1933 by Dreher & Flamm. The stained glass windows depict saints. Alfred Crepaz created the mosaic Noli me tangere in 1980.
The parish possesses a Christmas crib. Gröden sculptors carved it in the late 19th century. It was refashioned in 1994. Drawings of Jordan’s designs for the church were displayed at the 1900 Paris World Exhibition.
In 1899, the Pfarre Gersthof – St. Leopold received parish rights. These rights were transferred from the Johannes-Nepomuk-Kapelle.
Heinrich Maier was ordained a deacon in 1935. He later led a resistance group against National Socialism. Maier was executed in 1945. A headless statue commemorates him.
The church received its current bells in 1952. The interior was restored and altered in 1963. The exterior was restored in 1979. Another interior redesign occurred in 1980. This was for liturgical reasons.
The Pfarre Gersthof – St. Leopold stands as a symbol. It embodies faith, community, and resilience. Its walls echo with stories of survival. They whisper tales of hope. The Pfarre Gersthof – St. Leopold is more than a building. It’s a living testament to the spirit of Gersthof.