“Did you know that St. Georg in Konstanz-Allmannsdorf has stood for centuries?” A church was first mentioned here in 1260. Back then St. Georg stood far outside Konstanz’s city walls. It was surrounded by only a few small houses. Today, St. Georg is in the heart of a district. This district handles traffic from the ferry, Switzerland and Bodanrück.
Let’s delve into the story of St. Georg. Its landmark is the sturdy church tower. This tower dates back to the 13th century. Together with the over 100-year-old Wellingtonia, it is a visible symbol of Allmannsdorf.
The original modest Gothic church was replaced in 1845. This replacement essentially forms our parish church today. The continuously increasing number of parish members led to a renovation in 1960. This renovation doubled the space in the nave. A new chancel was added to the west gable. The main entrance was created through the former altar area.
In 1984, the chancel was redesigned. This accounted for liturgical reforms. Since 1995, the parish has had ample space. This is due to the completion of the Georgsaal. It directly adjoins the parish church. This provides what a lively community needs.
The church tower, built around 1420, shapes the town. It is Allmannsdorf’s landmark together with the mighty Wellingtonia. This chancel flank tower is the oldest part of the church. Around 1745, the church interior was created in its current dimensions. This excludes the chancel. Only the sacrament house remains from the Gothic church. The interior design has been changed repeatedly over the last two centuries.
A significant structural change took place in 1962. The chancel was moved from east to west. The chancel received its current design in 1984. This design was enhanced by a new lighting concept in the anniversary year 2010.
St. Georg is part of the Konstanz St. Georg – Maria Hilf pastoral care unit. This includes two churches and two chapels. These are St. Georg, Maria Hilfe der Christen, the Loretto Chapel and the Chapel St. Josef in Egg.
Consider the Tabernacle inscription. It reads “ACCIPITE ET MANDUCATE EX HOC OMNES HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM”. This translates to “Take and eat, for this is my body”. These are the words of institution from the Last Supper.
The St. Georg also features an organ. It was built in 1891 by Xaver Mönch. The organ has 10 sounding registers.
St. Georg has witnessed many changes. It adapted to the needs of its community. It evolved over the centuries. From its humble beginnings outside the city walls to its central role today. St. Georg remains a vital part of Konstanz-Allmannsdorf. It stands as a testament to faith and community.