Timeless St Peter und Paul stands before you. Its history whispers secrets of centuries past. This isn’t just a church it’s a living testament to Dornbach’s enduring spirit.
The Pfarrkirche Dornbach St Peter und Paul isn’t just a building. It’s a story etched in stone and stained glass. It’s a story of faith resilience and remarkable transformations. Dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul it holds a place of profound significance within Vienna’s 17th district Hernals.
Did you know that the roots of this church stretch back to 1139? A chapel then stood here consecrated by Bishop Reginbert of Passau. This early chapel marked not only a spiritual beginning but also the transfer of tithes and the right to hold services to the local religious community. Full parish rights however only arrived in 1251. The church remained incorporated into the Abbey of St Peter in Salzburg for a long time until 1995.
The current structure you see is the result of centuries of rebuilding and renovation. Gothic features from a 1476 rebuild are visible. Following damage from the Ottoman wars the church underwent further reconstructions. Significant changes came in 1745-1756 under Pfarrer Anton Knoll. The church was expanded into a more hall-like design particularly towards the south. The tower underwent alteration too removed in 1880 and rebuilt smaller on the apse’s side. A notable addition is the Kriegerkapelle a chapel dedicated to war casualties created in 1881 by Franz Glaser.
The most dramatic transformation though arrived in 1931. Professor Clemens Holzmeister masterminded a major extension. This shifted the church’s orientation by 90 degrees on the area of the former cemetery southward. Holzmeister’s work was complemented by Georg Lippert’s alterations in 1955-1957. Lippert moved the main entrance north and removed the Baroque pulpit. The church also adapted to the liturgical changes of the Second Vatican Council in 1962 with the introduction of a people’s altar.
The organ above the southern connecting section between the old and new church started to be built in 1931 by Orgelbaumeister Zika. It remained unfinished due to financial constraints and World War II. A famous Dornbach native Anton Heiller a renowned church musician played on this unfinished instrument. Later a concert hall organ from Korneuburg’s city parish church a Heiller-Organ now graces the church.
St Peter und Paul has witnessed countless celebrations and solemn moments. The stories of its parishioners echo within its walls. It’s a place of worship a historical landmark and a window to Vienna’s rich history. Take a moment to reflect on the enduring faith and community that have shaped this remarkable place. It truly is a spiritual landmark for Dornbach.