Specifically located in Hangelar, St. Anna stands as a testament to faith. This place has a story woven into the very fabric of the town. Let’s delve into it.
St. Anna is more than just a church. It is a focal point of Hangelar, a town of about 10,000 residents. Hangelar sits almost exactly midway between Bonn and Siegburg. It is strategically positioned near the B56 highway. The town’s history stretches back centuries.
The first documented mention of Hangelar dates to September 17, 1314. A Schwarzrheindorf document mentions a Johannes de Hangelare. He negotiated free passage across the Rhine with shippers from Bonn and Beuel. Just a few years later in 1327, Johannes and his son Winrich de Hangelair are recorded as landowners. The Abbess Ponzetta of Vilich bought land from them.
Interestingly, the document refers to the village of Hademar. Hademar’s location on the imperial road suggests it might be Hangelar. The name Hangelar may have replaced Hademar over time. The name Hademar disappears from records later.
For over three centuries after its first mention, Hangelar faded into obscurity. It wasn’t until the mid-17th century that records resurfaced. The Bergisches Land tax register listed 296 Morgen of land in Hangelar.
In 1685, the Siegburg Abbey challenged the Abbess of Vilich’s hunting rights. The dispute specifically concerned the “Hangelar heath and above their Goldwinkerl.” The abbess fiercely protested the limitation of her hunting and fishing rights. She cited a rural statute from 1657. This statute proved she possessed hunting and fishing rights in Hangelar. This right possibly originated from the forest rights acquired by Johann von Hangelar.
In 1792, the Honschaft Hangelar comprised 644 hectares. It consisted solely of the village itself. The area around Hangelar was once covered in oak and beech forests. These forests provided firewood for Austrian troops.
Around 1900, Hangelar began to industrialize. Johann Klein and A. Bönneken founded an iron foundry in 1902. This company was later leased to and then acquired by Winkler and Dünnebier. Around the same time, a company formed to manufacture facing bricks and other clay products. Clay became a defining element of Hangelar. Several companies emerged like the “Bonner Verblendstein- und Tonwarenfabriken AG”.
By 1920, Hangelar’s population neared 1,500. By 1950, it reached 3,000. In 1995, it exceeded 10,000. This growth was mainly attributed to Bonn’s role as the capital. Hangelar’s favorable location between Bonn and Siegburg also played a role.
In 1969, Hangelar became part of the new municipality of Sankt Augustin. In 1977, Sankt Augustin was elevated to city status. Hangelar has always belonged to the parish of Vilich. The parish proudly called itself the “Herrlichkeit Vilich”.
In 1970, St. Anna parish moved from the Beuel deanery to the Siegburg deanery. In 1977, the independent Sankt Augustin deanery was formed. Today, St. Anna is part of the Sankt Augustin pastoral care area. This belongs to the Rhein-Sieg-Kreis deanery.
St. Anna stands as a symbol of Hangelar’s transformation. From its humble beginnings to its modern-day presence. It remains a central landmark for the community.