Ruins rise before you. This is St Andreas in Regensburg. But this wasn’t always so.
St Andreas in Regensburg stands as a testament to resilience. It’s a monastery church a place steeped in history. Its roots stretch deep into the past. Once part of the Augustinian Canons’ monastery of St Mang it has seen centuries of change.
Initially a church dedicated to Saint Magnus existed here. This was sometime around the middle of the 12th century. The monastery itself was founded in 1138. The ambitious project was driven by Gebhard a cleric. He wanted to reform the church. He used his possessions to start the monastery. These included properties near Velburg and even vineyards.
The church was incorporated into the monastery’s construction around 1146. Workmen from Como were involved. The foundations of this original church are believed to be under the Andreasstrasse 13 building. In 1156 the altar was consecrated. This was a dedication to Saint Andreas with Saint Magnus remaining a secondary patron saint.
The monastery flourished. Then it declined. By the end of the 15th century it was fading in significance. The Reformation caused it to lose wealth. Then came the Thirty Years’ War. The buildings including St Andreas were completely destroyed in 1634.
This area was unguarded and vulnerable. The Swedish occupation of Regensburg made it a strategic battleground. The monastery and church became victims of the fighting. Their destruction was necessary to prevent them giving cover to enemy troops. This was a grim chapter in St Andreas’ story.
A Loreto chapel was rebuilt in 1643. It sat amidst the ruins. It was meant to revive pilgrimages. The funds for this small structure aimed to help finance a full reconstruction.
The church and monastery were finally rebuilt between 1720 and 1751. This is the Baroque structure you see today. The high altar’s design is splendid. The altarpiece is from the early 1720s. It shows the martyrdom of St Andreas. The ceiling and wall paintings in the choir followed in 1738. They are the work of Otto Gebhard a local artist.
The monastery was dissolved in 1803. Its buildings were used for the local court and a brewery. Since 1977 they have housed the Church Music College. St Andreas itself became an independent parish church in 1912. It continues to serve the community today. Its bell tower offers four-part bronze bells a testament to the music that echoes within. St Andreas still stands. A symbol of survival through times of great change.