Is it possible that St. Laurentius holds secrets from centuries past? This baroque church is a cultural landmark in Kalbach. Kalbach is a northern district of Frankfurt am Main. St. Laurentius is more than just a building. It is a testament to faith and resilience.
St. Laurentius now belongs to the parish of St. Katharina von Siena. It has been part of this parish since 2016. The parish itself belongs to the Diocese of Limburg.
In the Middle Ages, Kalbach’s church was a branch of the main church in Weisskirchen. That church was located in Crutzen and Bonames. Records from 1446 indicate a simple wooden church stood here. It stood on the elevated site where St. Laurentius stands today. Kalbach was largely destroyed in the Thirty Years’ War. A new, slightly larger wooden church was built in 1652. The pastor still came from Weisskirchen to hold services in Kalbach. The population grew after the war. The existing church became too small.
The construction of today’s St. Laurentius Church began in 1733. Builders from Tyrol, led by Master Christian Fritz, constructed the building over several decades. Stones from the Kreuzergut quarry and remnants of the destroyed church in Crutzen were used for the foundation. The foundation stone was laid in 1736. St. Laurentius Church was consecrated on August 11, 1765. Christoph Nebel, Auxiliary Bishop, performed the consecration. The branch separated from Weisskirchen in 1847. Kalbach became an independent parish.
St. Laurentius Church is located in the heart of the village on Kalbacher Hauptstrasse. It sits on a plateau. The baroque hall church faces northeast. The choir is set back from the main building. It ends in a pentagonal shape. The sides of the building measure approximately twenty-two by eleven meters. The plastered facades are divided by high arched windows. The steeply pitched slate roof culminates in a tall roof turret to the west.
The interior of St. Laurentius is decorated in baroque style. The ornate altar dominates the space. The figurative decorations stand out against the light plastered walls. The three altars come from the old church. The side altars were created in 1608. The high altar was created in 1700 and supplemented in 1770. The pulpit was made during the construction period.
Imagine the echoes of prayers that have filled this space. St. Laurentius is not just a church. It is a landmark that reflects the history and faith of Kalbach.