St. Thomas Church

St. Thomas Church, known locally as Thomaskirche, stands as one of Leipzig's most iconic landmarks, a beacon of history, music, and architectural splendor. This magnificent church, along with its counterpart, St. Nicholas Church, forms the spiritual heart of the city and is renowned worldwide as the workplace of the legendary composer Johann Sebastian Bach and the home of the Thomanerchor, one of the oldest boys' choirs in Germany.

The History of St. Thomas Church

The roots of St. Thomas Church stretch back to the 12th century. Archaeological excavations have revealed the foundations of a Romanesque church dating to around 1160, when Margrave Otto the Rich of Meissen granted city rights to the settlement of Leipzig. Between 1212 and 1222, this early market church was transformed into the collegiate church of the newly founded St. Thomas Monastery of the Augustinian Canons. It is said that the Minnesinger Heinrich von Morungen gifted a relic of St. Thomas, brought from India, to the monastery upon his entrance.

The Thomanerchor was established in 1212, making it one of the oldest boys' choirs in Germany. Over the centuries, many distinguished composers and musicians have held the prestigious position of Thomaskantor. The Romanesque chancel was remodeled around 1355, and in 1391, the church of Sommerfeld from the Kreuzkloster in Meissen was transferred to St. Thomas Church in Leipzig.

By the late 15th century, Leipzig had become a prosperous trade and fair city due to silver discoveries in the Ore Mountains. This wealth allowed for the reconstruction and expansion of its churches. The old nave of St. Thomas Church was demolished in 1482 and rebuilt in its largely present form. The church was reconsecrated by Bishop Thilo of Merseburg on April 10, 1496. Over the centuries, the church underwent several additions and modifications, with the most significant being the 68-meter-high tower, whose lower section dates back to before 1355 and received its octagonal top in the 14th century. The upper part of the tower, including the octagon and the Baroque dome with a lantern, was rebuilt in 1537 and achieved its current form in the mid-19th century.

In 1539, the Reformer Martin Luther preached here during Pentecost. The church's exterior is primarily shaped by 19th-century renovations and alterations. After the church was transferred from municipal ownership to the self-administration of the church community in 1869, historicizing renovations were carried out on the exterior facade for about 30 years. Among other changes, two chapels from the 17th century and a long porch on the north wall of the nave were removed. The neo-Gothic show facade on the west gable was executed between 1884 and 1889 based on designs by Constantin Lipsius, while almost all Gothic and Renaissance facade elements and most of the Baroque interior furnishings were removed. The crucifix opposite the pulpit and the paintings of the superintendents in the chancel were preserved.

St. Thomas Church has witnessed many significant events, including the baptism of Karl Liebknecht in 1871, with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels as written godparents. The church suffered damage during the air raid on Leipzig on December 4, 1943, and large parts of the surrounding buildings were destroyed. Post-war restorations included the application of a uniform plaster, while previously exposed brickwork areas were plastered over. In 1949, the presumed remains of Bach, who served as the Thomaskantor from 1723 until his death in 1750, were transferred here from the destroyed St. John's Church.

During the interior renovation from 1961 to 1964, efforts were made to restore the church to its late Gothic hall church appearance. After German reunification, a major restoration and renovation project was undertaken, culminating in the consecration of the Woehl organ on the 250th anniversary of Bach's death.

Architectural Marvels of St. Thomas Church

St. Thomas Church is a three-aisled hall church with a total length of 76 meters. The main nave measures 50 meters in length, 25 meters in width, and 18 meters in height. The chancel is slightly angled northward from the nave. The roof has an unusually steep pitch of 63 degrees, making it one of the steepest gable roofs in Germany. Inside, the roof features seven levels with a ridge height of 45 meters. The nave's ceiling consists of a colorfully accented net rib vault.

Exploring the Interior and Furnishings

The interior of St. Thomas Church is adorned with various altars, including the neo-Gothic Jesus Altar, which was designed and constructed in 1888 under the direction of architect Constantin Lipsius. After being relocated to the south sacristy in the 1960s, the altar was restored and returned to the chancel in 2016. The reliefs depict scenes from the life of Christ, with the Last Supper in the center, created by Oskar Rassau.

The church also features a historic pulpit from 1885, a marble and alabaster baptismal font created by Franz Döteber in 1614/1615, and numerous epitaphs and grave slabs, including the late Gothic grave slabs of Nickel Pflugk and Knight Hermann von Harras.

St. Thomas Church is not just a place of worship but a living monument to Leipzig's rich cultural and musical heritage. Its walls resonate with the echoes of history, and its halls are filled with the timeless music of Bach and the Thomanerchor. A visit to this historic church is a journey through centuries of faith, art, and music, making it an unmissable destination for any traveler to Leipzig.