“Baroque village church” might not be the first thing you expect to find amidst Munich’s urban sprawl. Yet, here we stand before the Alte Pfarrkirche St. Margaret. It is a testament to history and faith. This church is dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch.
St. Margaret’s story is deeply intertwined with the history of Untersendling. Today, it is Munich’s 6th district. The church we see now was built between 1711 and 1713. Wolfgang Zwerger designed it. It replaced an older church. That earlier church was largely destroyed during the Sendlinger Mordweihnacht.
The Sendlinger Mordweihnacht translates to Sendling’s Murderous Christmas. It was a brutal battle in 1705. During this event, Bavarian farmers fought against Austrian troops. The old church suffered greatly. Some medieval elements remain. They are mostly within the tower. Look closely at the left apse window. There is a glass painting from 1493. It is signed by Lienhart Ötl.
Over the centuries, St. Margaret has been renovated several times. Renovations occurred in 1935/36 and 1964/65. These repairs fixed bomb damage. More recently, it was renovated from 2003 to 2005. This prepared the church for the 300th anniversary of the battle.
Notice the exterior of St. Margaret. The long building has four bays. Lesenes articulate it. The 3/8 choir is attached beneath a shared hipped roof. The roof is covered with wood shingles. This is likely how it was when first built. The square tower integrates into the west facade. The upper levels are octagonal. A cupola with a lantern crowns the tower. Friedrich Kühn created the relief tondo on the gable. It depicts the resurrected Christ. Above it is a papal coat of arms.
On the south side, there is a two-room sacristy. Also, there is a porch. Step inside St. Margaret. The main room is rectangular. A flat barrel vault with lunettes covers it. Peter Franz Appiani created the colorful stucco decorations.
Let’s admire the altars of St. Margaret. Franz Fröhlich created the high altar. It features Saint Margaret. Wooden figures of Saint John and Saint George flank it. Johann Baptist Unterstainer created the left side altar. It depicts the Holy Family. An unknown artist created the right side altar. It shows the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus and the Three Kings.
Take note of the pulpit. Ignaz Johann Grässl created it. The figure of Salvator Mundi is by F. Fröhlich. He is also credited with the apostles. Frescoes adorn the vault fields. Caspar Gottfried Stuber and his son Nikolaus Gottfried Stuber likely painted them in 1712. The frescoes depict Maria Immaculata. Also, they show God the Father creating Heaven and Earth. You can see the Holy Spirit. There is the Fall and Redemption. Finally, over the organ is Christ as the Judge of the World.
Outside, on the northern exterior wall, you will spot a large fresco by Wilhelm Lindenschmit the Elder. It dates to 1830. It portrays the Sendlinger Bauernschlacht of 1705. A small open chapel stands outside. It is a charnel house. It contains skulls of the deceased behind iron bars.
The organ was built in 1860. Max Maerz created it. It is one of his largest surviving organs. In the 1960s, the organ was modified. However, a 2006 restoration reconstructed the original features.
St. Margaret represents a typical Upper Bavarian baroque village church. It has a well-preserved interior from its time. The church stands on a site of historical significance. The Sendlinger Mordweihnacht’s final battles occurred here. Thousands died. They were mostly farmers. They were killed by Austrian forces. Many victims are buried in mass graves in the cemetery. A classical monument from 1830 commemorates them.
Opposite the church, a monument honors the “Smith of Kochel”. According to legend, he was a giant. He bravely resisted until the end on St. Margaret’s Kirchhof.
St. Margaret stands as a symbol of faith. It also represents resilience. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom.