Wanderstab Reisetasche Pilgermuschel. What do these three things have in common? They are the attributes of the Apostle James. We are standing before St. Jakobus. It is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne. More precisely it is located in Widdersdorf. St. Jakobus is more than just a building. It is a landmark with a rich history.
St. Jakobus’s history stretches back centuries. Widdersdorf was an outer estate of Brauweiler Benedictine Abbey. The first documented mention of Widdersdorf was in 1106. Monks from the abbey served as pastors in Widdersdorf continuously. This lasted from the 16th century until secularization in 1803. The Renaissance-style parsonage built in 1531. The Baroque church reflects Widdersdorf’s close ties to the abbey.
The church you see today was built in 1745. It replaced a small Romanesque chapel. The foundations of that chapel were found during renovations. This happened in 1988 and 1989. The older parsonage included farm buildings on its west side until the 19th century. The Küsterhaus is a third historical building. It is nestled between the church and the parsonage. Until 1870, it served as the village school.
Extensive renovations took place from 1965 to 1973. The church board, the Archdiocese’s building authority and the preservation authorities collaborated. Further renovations were needed two decades later. The roof truss was restored in 1986. The church interior was renovated in the winter of 1988 and 1989. The parish center was expanded on the site of the former farmyard. Construction began in autumn 1998 and was completed in spring 2001. The new building’s layout roughly matches the former farm buildings.
The Apostle James is the patron saint of the parish. The high altar depicts him with a staff, travel bag, and pilgrim’s shell. This is how Europe has traditionally seen him. Widdersdorf, like other St. James locations in Europe was a rest stop. Pilgrims from Northern Germany and Scandinavia stayed here. They were on their way to Santiago de Compostela. It is the largest pilgrimage site in Europe after Jerusalem and Rome. It is the burial site of the Apostle James in Spain. A stele erected by the German St. James Society. It was in collaboration with the Rhineland Regional Council points this out.
The Apostle James walks with a staff in hand. He symbolizes the journey of our entire lives. St. Jakobus has long been a stop for pilgrims. They are on the Way of St. James to Aachen. They pass through Brauweiler and Kerpen. A visible stele at the church entrance alerts visitors. The local committee has fulfilled a request from pilgrims. They can now get their pilgrim passports stamped in the church. The parish office has limited hours. So a stamping station has been set up in the entrance area.
The stamping station features a rosewood pillar. It holds a box with the stamp and ink pad. People can pause here and find new strength for their journey.
Diakon Werner Braun is available. He can speak to those who wish to walk the Way of St. James. He walked the Camino in Spain in 2013 with a friend. He shares his experiences with others.
St. Jakobus stands as a testament to faith, history, and community. It welcomes all who seek rest and reflection.