Ever wondered what Augsburg’s oldest church looks like? That is St. Gallus. It’s also called Galluskirchlein. This Romanesque building probably stands on the remains of a Roman Mercury temple. Around 900, a Christian sacred building was erected here on the Gallusbergle.
Let’s step back in time. The Gallus patronage dates back to this era. Underneath St. Gallus lies the apse foundation of the largest Roman basilica found to the right of the Rhine. This predecessor building lay outside the early medieval episcopal city after the Roman city shrank.
Fast forward to 1051. Pope Leo IX consecrated the church during his travels. A chaplaincy was established in 1367. During the Reformation, St. Gallus briefly fell into Protestant hands. After the Peace of Augsburg, the St. Stephan Abbey reclaimed the small church.
In 1578, under Abbess Euphrosina Kreuth, St. Gallus underwent significant renovations. Further repairs occurred in 1662 under Abbess Dorothea von Westernach. More work was done in 1759.
Then came secularization in 1806. The Bavarian government closed St. Gallus. Later, they reopened it for services. Since then, the church belongs to the Dompfarrei. They are responsible for its upkeep.
During World War II, St. Gallus remained mostly intact. The attached residential buildings were destroyed. Until recently, the Russian Orthodox community used St. Gallus. A comprehensive renovation took place in 2002.
Now, let’s look inside St. Gallus. The tomb of Elesinde, the first abbess of St. Stephan Abbey, is at the foot of the altar. Abbess Euphrosina von Kreut erected her epitaph in 1589. The altar dates back to 1760. It features a wooden figure of St. Gallus. A radiant Madonna adorns the ceiling in the east bay dating to the same period.
Did you know that Bishop Adalbero of Augsburg may be responsible for the Gallus patronage? He had close ties with the Monastery of St. Gallen. Adalbero gifted a relic of Saint Magnus to the newly built church of Sankt Mangen in St. Gallen. Salomo III, the head of St. Gallen Monastery, likely reciprocated with relics of Saint Gallus for Augsburg.
Also, Ulrich, Adalbero’s nephew, attended the St. Gallen Monastery school between 900 and 908. He later became Bishop of Augsburg in 923 and maintained strong ties with St. Gallen. Saint Ulrich founded the St. Stephan Abbey near St. Gallus Church. Ellensind, the first head of the abbey, was likely buried in St. Gallus Church. Ulrich was canonized in 993, just twenty years after his death.
St. Gallus stands as a testament to Augsburg’s rich history. It bridges Roman times with the medieval era. From papal visits to periods of religious upheaval, this small church has witnessed centuries of change. Its enduring presence makes it a unique treasure in Augsburg.