Did you know that St. Laurentius Kirche in Mannheim Käfertal has seen congregations of Catholics for centuries? The St. Laurentius Kirche stands here today as a testament to their enduring faith. Let’s step back in time and explore its fascinating story.
Käfertal was first documented in 1227. A church in the village was mentioned in 1393. It was initially dedicated to Saint Mauritius. The Reformation was introduced in the Palatinate in 1556. Over the following centuries, the church experienced multiple changes in religious affiliation. Ultimately, it was assigned to the Reformed Church during the Palatinate church division. Today, it is known as the Protestant Union Church.
In 1727, Catholics built a small church dedicated to Saint Lawrence. However, Käfertal did not have its own priest. Priests from the Feudenheim Church of St. Peter and Paul were responsible for their care. A request for their own parish was rejected in 1816. By 1830, the small church could no longer accommodate the 772 Catholics in Käfertal. Plans were made for a larger new building. Construction began in 1834. The St. Laurentius Kirche was consecrated on November 15, 1835. The pulpit, altar, and organ were taken from the old church.
Another request for their own priest was made in 1836. It wasn’t until 1849 that the Archbishop of Freiburg, Hermann von Vicari, elevated Käfertal to its own parish.
Leading up to the church’s 100th anniversary in 1935, Karl Degen painted a ceiling mural in the choir. It depicted a scene from the life of Saint Lawrence. Oskar Martin-Amorbach created the two side altars. Josef Amberg crafted the high altar.
During an air raid in 1944, the choir was destroyed and the roof was damaged. The bells were lost to metal collections during the Second World War. Repairs to the building were completed by 1954. The bells were fully restored the following year.
In 1973 and 1974, a side extension was added. The interior was also redesigned. Due to a shortage of priests in the Catholic Church, the neighboring parishes of St. Laurentius, St. Hildegard, and the Twelve Apostles merged in 2003. They formed the Käfertal-Vogelstang pastoral care unit.
The St. Laurentius Kirche stands in the center of Käfertal near the old town hall. Both buildings were built in the Weinbrenner style. This was a variation of late Classicism typical in Baden at the time, named after Friedrich Weinbrenner. The church is a simple plastered building with round-arched windows. The tower has a square plan. It is almost entirely recessed and topped by a pyramidal roof.
The main portal is at the front. Its arch is emphasized. Above it is a bricked-up arched window, with only the fanlight left open. A semicircular window sits above. The triangular gable is striking. It is interrupted by the tower. There, the cornice continues in the impost profile of the bricked-up window. The nave has a choir with a semicircular end. It is covered by a gabled roof. In the 1970s, the nave was widened to the east and designed in the style of the time.
The organ was built by Orgelbau Weise in 1975. It is installed as a swallow’s nest on the gallery rear wall under the ceiling. It has 25 stops on two manuals and pedals.
So, as you stand before the St. Laurentius Kirche, consider its long journey. From a small chapel to the parish church. It has been a beacon of faith for the Catholic community in Käfertal. A building that reflects both its history and its enduring spirit.