St. Ulrici (Sangerhausen)

St. Ulrici Church, located in the picturesque town of Sangerhausen in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, stands as a testament to the rich history and architectural splendor of the region. This Romanesque pillar basilica, built in the 12th century, is not only the oldest and most significant church in the town but also a remarkable example of medieval ecclesiastical architecture.

The History of St. Ulrici

The origins of St. Ulrici Church are shrouded in mystery, with the exact date of the first church on this site remaining unknown. However, historical records indicate that in the year 1100, Landgrave Ludwig the Springer donated the church of the place called Sangerhusen to the Benedictine monastery of Reinhardsbrunn, which likely referred to St. Ulrici. During this period, the church may have been associated with a collegiate chapter, and members of the noble family were interred within its walls.

Shortly after 1116, a new church was constructed following a vow made by Ludwig the Springer. This church was consecrated between 1135 and 1140. In 1265, a Cistercian nunnery was established adjacent to the church. This nunnery was dissolved in 1539, and St. Ulrici became an Evangelical parish church.

Architectural Evolution

The current three-aisled pillar basilica began construction around 1116. Following the establishment of the Cistercian nunnery in 1265, a northern cloister was added. The church and nunnery suffered damage during a town fire in 1389, leading to the destruction of the nunnery and damage to the church.

During the restoration, a Gothic crossing tower was added, and the south transept and central apse received Gothic windows. The north transept was shortened by one bay. In 1583, buttresses were added, and in 1625, the vault of the northern aisle was rebuilt. The chancel, transept, and west gable were replaced in 1694. A roof rider was removed in 1699, and four additional buttresses were added to the south side in 1706. Another fire in 1780 necessitated the replacement of the crossing vault in 1809.

From 1892 to 1893, the church underwent extensive restoration, during which portals, friezes, and windows were replaced and redesigned. The galleries, baroque organ, and baroque altar were removed, and the church was painted in the Neo-Romanesque style. A wooden pulpit created by sculptor Gustav Kuntzsch of Wernigerode was installed but was removed in 1948/1949 due to severe woodworm infestation. Since 1991, the church has been undergoing continuous restoration.

Architectural Features

St. Ulrici Church is constructed from rubble stone and sandstone ashlar. It features a three-aisled basilica with a transept and a crossing tower. The pillars are cross-shaped, and the nave comprises five bays. To the west, an annex with two bays matches the width and height of the central nave. The chancel is also three-aisled and extends over two bays, ending in three parallel apses. The transept arms each have two bays, with the inner bay continuing the flow of the side aisles. Each outer bay ends in an apse.

Externally, the church is characterized by its long, continuous roofline and the octagonal crossing tower topped with a spire, which is a defining feature of Sangerhausen's skyline. Inside, the narrow and canyon-like central nave and transept are particularly striking. Five round-arched arcades of varying heights and widths separate the central nave from the side aisles. The crossing pillars and transverse arch templates in the transept are notably bent due to the pressure exerted by the heavy crossing tower. The central nave, northern aisle, transepts, and chancel feature irregular groin vaults, while the southern aisle is covered by barrel vaulting.

Notable Interior Elements

Within the northern transept arm, a tympanum from the first half of the 12th century is embedded. The front wall of the northern transept contains remnants of a wooden and stucco altar screen. The bronze baptismal font dates back to 1369, and a crucifix from around 1500 hangs in the western chancel bay. The church also houses the tomb of Valtin Fuchs, a bailiff who died in 1558.

The Historic Organ

The organ of St. Ulrici was built in 1858 by organ builder Julius Alexander Strobel from Frankenhausen. This purely mechanical instrument features 20 registers (slider chests) on two manuals and pedal, housed in a Neo-Romanesque case from 1892. The façade pipes are mute. After numerous, sometimes significant modifications, the organ was restored to its historical state in 2010 by the organ-building company Sauer from Frankfurt (Oder), with several registers being partially or completely reconstructed.

St. Ulrici Church in Sangerhausen is not just a place of worship; it is a historical monument that tells the story of centuries of architectural evolution, religious devotion, and community resilience. Whether you are an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or a spiritual seeker, a visit to St. Ulrici offers a profound glimpse into the past and a serene experience in the present.