St. Johannis, Ansbach

St. Johannis Church in Ansbach, Bavaria, is a magnificent testament to Gothic architecture and a beacon of historical significance. Nestled in the heart of Ansbach, this Evangelical Lutheran parish church has stood the test of time, captivating visitors with its intricate design and storied past.

The History of St. Johannis Church

The origins of St. Johannis Church date back to 1139, when it was first mentioned in historical records as a church dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It was gifted by the Bishop of Würzburg to the altar of St. Gumbertus. The construction of the current building began in the early 15th century, with master builders Endres Embhart and Nikolaus Eseler the Younger at the helm. The nave was completed in 1435, and the choir construction commenced in 1441. The church is a three-aisled pseudo-basilica made of sandstone blocks, characterized by its elevated central nave, although it lacks clerestory windows for direct lighting.

St. Johannis Church is renowned for its two towers of differing heights and designs, which have become a distinctive feature of Ansbach's skyline. The northern tower, a five-story structure with an octagonal upper section, is richly adorned with tracery panels, a gallery, and a stair tower. In contrast, the southern tower is more modest in its design. The church's choir is flanked by these towers and ends in a three-sided apse, creating a harmonious architectural ensemble.

Exploring St. Johannis Church

As you step inside St. Johannis Church, you are greeted by a breathtaking interior that seamlessly blends the nave and choir into a unified space. The side aisles are adorned with ribbed vaults, while the central nave and choir boast intricate net vaults. The rhythmically arranged vaulting patterns in the nave add to the church's visual appeal.

The church's interior is home to several notable altars, each with its own unique story and artistic significance. The high altar in the choir, created in 1717 by the Windsheim sculptor Georg Brenck the Younger, was originally an epitaph for the Ansbach mayor Wolfgang Seubold, who died in 1631. The altar features a central painting of the Crucifixion, a relief of the Transfiguration above it, and the Seubold family coat of arms at the top. The altar was moved to its current location in 1958 and restored by church painter Franz Wiedl.

The Altars of St. Johannis Church

The Flötner Altar, attributed to the versatile artist Peter Flötner, is a prime example of early Renaissance art in Upper Italy. This altar, originally unpainted, was later adorned around 1600 to serve as a communion altar. It was relocated to its current position in the northern side aisle in 1991 during the church's renovation.

The Wanderer Altar, designed by Friedrich Wilhelm Wanderer, is located on the eastern wall of the southern side aisle. This neo-Gothic altarpiece depicts the Resurrection of Christ and was initially created for the new high altar after the princely crypt was lowered in 1885-1886. The altar was stored away during the 1959 renovation but was reinstalled in 1990.

The Stained Glass Windows and Princely Crypt

The choir of St. Johannis Church is illuminated by seven beautifully painted windows, each telling a different story. The windows feature depictions of Martin Luther, the Evangelists Matthew and Mark, the Baptism of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, the Last Supper, the Evangelists Luke and John, and the Reformer Philipp Melanchthon. These windows were crafted in 1903 by the Munich court glass painter Franz Xaver Zettler.

Beneath the choir lies the princely crypt, dating back to around 1660. This crypt once housed the sarcophagi of the Margraves of Ansbach and their families. After the original burial site in Heilsbronn Minster was plundered in 1631, a new, more secure burial place was needed. The crypt was excavated in 1665, raising the choir floor significantly above the nave. The sarcophagi were later moved to the Swan Knight Chapel of St. Gumbertus in 1977 due to the difficulty of maintaining the necessary climate conditions in the crypt.

Exterior Features and Memorials

The exterior of St. Johannis Church is equally captivating, with several notable features. The Friedrich Güll Fountain, located on the southern facade, commemorates the 100th birthday of the children's song poet Friedrich Güll. The fountain, installed in 1912, depicts a scene from Güll's poem Pflaumenregen (Plum Rain).

Adjacent to the southern tower is a war memorial dedicated to the approximately 500 Ansbach residents who perished in World War I. The relief, created by Munich sculptor Georg Müller and unveiled in 1927, depicts a young man wearing only a steel helmet, seated on an unsaddled horse and holding a broken sword. A memorial plaque for the victims of World War II was added in 1996.

Between the buttresses of the choir, eleven statues stand proudly in their niches. These figures represent the Apostles Paul, John, Peter, and Simon, as well as two archangels or prophets, two bishops, John the Baptist, Mary with the Child, and an unidentified figure. Originally created in the 15th century, these statues have undergone multiple restorations and replacements over the centuries, most recently during the exterior renovation in 1989.

The Bells and Organ

The St. Johannis Church boasts an impressive set of bells housed in the northern tower. The oldest bell, cast in 1550, is accompanied by two bells cast in 1954 to replace those lost during wartime. Together, these bells create a harmonious chime known as the Gloria motif. Additionally, two smaller bells, one from 1444 and the other from 1647, mark the quarter and full hours from a small roof turret at the west end of the church.

The church's organ, built in 1962 by the Rieger organ-building company and reorganized in 1991 by the Mühleisen company, features 46 registers across three manuals and a pedal. This remarkable instrument, with its mechanical playing action and electric stop action, adds to the church's rich musical heritage.

In conclusion, St. Johannis Church in Ansbach is not just a place of worship but a living museum of Gothic architecture and Bavarian history. Its walls and towers echo the stories of centuries past, inviting visitors to step back in time and experience the grandeur of this remarkable landmark.