A simple wooden structure once stood here. This was the humble beginning of Pfarrkirche Unter St. Veit. The year was 1843. A bell hung proudly from its frame. A gift from Giuseppe Bossi a local hat maker. This bell still rings in Pfarrkirche Unter St. Veit today.
The story of Pfarrkirche Unter St. Veit isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about a community’s perseverance. A small village Unter-St.-Veit grew up around it. It started as just a few houses on farmland. Then in 1803 Michael Schwinner divided the land into 100 plots. This was a smart move to increase income. The new settlement quickly became known as Unter-St.-Veit. The original St Veit became Ober-St.-Veit. Ober-St.-Veit had its own church. This served both communities.
Tragedy struck in 1860. A devastating fire destroyed 13 houses. In the aftermath the community decided to build a church. Anton Kremser the local innkeeper and mayor took the lead. Josef Kopf a Hietzing builder constructed the new church. It was consecrated in 1867. It became a branch church of Ober-St.-Veit. In 1870 Unter-St.-Veit and Ober-St.-Veit became independent communities.
In 1892 Unter-St.-Veit officially became part of Vienna. This included the church which was previously owned by the community. Kaplan Gotthard Blümel acquired a stunning baroque high altar. It came from the demolished Laimgrubenkirche. This altar graced Pfarrkirche Unter St. Veit until 1965. Blümel also successfully fought against a plan to demolish the old church. The church became an expositur in 1940.
Sadly the old church was demolished in 1965. Three terracotta statues Immakulata Christ and Francis were saved. Felix Steinwandtner a local butcher saved them. He placed them in the entrance to the new church. The new Pfarrkirche Unter St. Veit was larger. It was built between 1965 and 1967. Anton Steflicek designed the impressive structure. Archbishop Franz Jachym consecrated the new church. Cardinal Franz König made it a parish church in 1968.
The modern Pfarrkirche Unter St. Veit stands back from the street. There’s a small square in front of it. Its tall tower is a prominent feature on the left. The gable facade is made of exposed concrete. It has a round window and a rectangular portal. Sepp Mayrhuber’s magnificent fresco of the Transfiguration of Christ dominates the altar wall. The church’s organ a 1969 Novak instrument adds to its beauty. A statue of St. John Nepomuk from 1855 stands guard outside. Pfarrkirche Unter St. Veit’s history is a testament to faith resilience and community spirit. A story carved in stone. A legacy that continues to this day.