Information about the town church
Welcome to our beautiful town church!
We are delighted to provide you with some information about our church and our Reformed parish.
The town church of St. George is the former monastery church of St. George. It was built between 1002 and 1007 AD in the Romanesque style. Over time, it has undergone many structural changes, evolving from a collegiate church with separate areas for clergy and laity to its present form, where all areas are accessible to all believers.
In the choir room, for example, take note of the aumbrey with its door made of metal latticework, or consider the modern inscription on the floor.
Valuable murals from the 14th/15th century can be found in the choir room and the north chapel, where the delicate paintings can be admired through the glass door.
The murals in the choir room depict XY and the ones in the chapel MN.
Can you recognise a coat of arms that still belongs to a German federal state today? It is the Bavarian coat of arms and commemorates the Bavarian origins of Emperor Henry II. He moved the monastery from Hohentwiel near Singen to Stein am Rhein in 1007.
The paintings were painted over during the Reformation and only rediscovered much later.
In the choir room, the mural on the left depicts the mother convent on Hohentwiel in Singen and its founders, Duke Burchard III of Swabia and his wife Hadwig. The mural on the right shows the view of the monastery relocated to Stein am Rhein by Emperor Henry II, as well as the founders of the mother monastery.
Note the fashion of the time and the founders' desire to be depicted. Through self-representation, they aimed to document their role as founders and promote their salvation, thereby securing a place in heaven.
The town church, which was originally the collegiate church of St. Georgen Monastery, now serves as a parish church following the secularisation of the monastery during the Reformation.
Our parish is Protestant Reformed and follows the theology of the reformer Huldrych Zwingli. In his view, only God's word should be read and heard. For this reason, church decorations, candles and flowers, as well as the liturgical vestments of the clergy, were removed from church building. Instead, benches were set up so that people could follow the interpretation of the Bible verses more easily while seated.
The altar was also removed from the church interior. The choir now has a Holy Communion table instead.
The cross in the side chapel was not erected until the 20th century. Since then, flowers and candles have also been ‘rediscovered’ to appeal to as many senses as possible.
The entrance door, the communion table and the ambo (‘lectern’) were designed in 1992 by the artist Wendelin Matt. The figures represent biblical role models: Jesus and his disciples, as well as figures from the Old Testament. Their stories with God encourage us to find our own path with God.
The entrance door, the communion table and the ambo (‘lectern’) were designed in 1992 by the artist Wendelin Matt. The figures represent biblical role models: Jesus and his disciples, as well as figures from the Old Testament. Their stories with God encourage us to find our own path with God.
Did you recognise Jesus as the risen Lord among the three figures on the ambo?
The stained glass windows in the choir room date back to 1932 and were created by the artist Werner Schaad.
Do you see anything specific in the arrangement of the windows, such as a cross, an angel, or simply the individual windows, or even something else? Everything is correct.
The windows of the side aisles were donated in the 16th century by wealthy citizens or nobles. The originals can now be seen in the Museum zu Allerheiligen in Schaffhausen.
The organ was installed in 1992 by Metzler Orgelbau AG.
Have you already noticed our church service and concert times? Music plays a fundamental and unifying role in our community life. You are warmly invited to join us!
We are delighted to provide you with some information about our church and our Reformed parish.
The town church of St. George is the former monastery church of St. George. It was built between 1002 and 1007 AD in the Romanesque style. Over time, it has undergone many structural changes, evolving from a collegiate church with separate areas for clergy and laity to its present form, where all areas are accessible to all believers.
In the choir room, for example, take note of the aumbrey with its door made of metal latticework, or consider the modern inscription on the floor.
Valuable murals from the 14th/15th century can be found in the choir room and the north chapel, where the delicate paintings can be admired through the glass door.
The murals in the choir room depict XY and the ones in the chapel MN.
Can you recognise a coat of arms that still belongs to a German federal state today? It is the Bavarian coat of arms and commemorates the Bavarian origins of Emperor Henry II. He moved the monastery from Hohentwiel near Singen to Stein am Rhein in 1007.
The paintings were painted over during the Reformation and only rediscovered much later.
In the choir room, the mural on the left depicts the mother convent on Hohentwiel in Singen and its founders, Duke Burchard III of Swabia and his wife Hadwig. The mural on the right shows the view of the monastery relocated to Stein am Rhein by Emperor Henry II, as well as the founders of the mother monastery.
Note the fashion of the time and the founders' desire to be depicted. Through self-representation, they aimed to document their role as founders and promote their salvation, thereby securing a place in heaven.
The town church, which was originally the collegiate church of St. Georgen Monastery, now serves as a parish church following the secularisation of the monastery during the Reformation.
Our parish is Protestant Reformed and follows the theology of the reformer Huldrych Zwingli. In his view, only God's word should be read and heard. For this reason, church decorations, candles and flowers, as well as the liturgical vestments of the clergy, were removed from church building. Instead, benches were set up so that people could follow the interpretation of the Bible verses more easily while seated.
The altar was also removed from the church interior. The choir now has a Holy Communion table instead.
The cross in the side chapel was not erected until the 20th century. Since then, flowers and candles have also been ‘rediscovered’ to appeal to as many senses as possible.
The entrance door, the communion table and the ambo (‘lectern’) were designed in 1992 by the artist Wendelin Matt. The figures represent biblical role models: Jesus and his disciples, as well as figures from the Old Testament. Their stories with God encourage us to find our own path with God.
The entrance door, the communion table and the ambo (‘lectern’) were designed in 1992 by the artist Wendelin Matt. The figures represent biblical role models: Jesus and his disciples, as well as figures from the Old Testament. Their stories with God encourage us to find our own path with God.
Did you recognise Jesus as the risen Lord among the three figures on the ambo?
The stained glass windows in the choir room date back to 1932 and were created by the artist Werner Schaad.
Do you see anything specific in the arrangement of the windows, such as a cross, an angel, or simply the individual windows, or even something else? Everything is correct.
The windows of the side aisles were donated in the 16th century by wealthy citizens or nobles. The originals can now be seen in the Museum zu Allerheiligen in Schaffhausen.
The organ was installed in 1992 by Metzler Orgelbau AG.
Have you already noticed our church service and concert times? Music plays a fundamental and unifying role in our community life. You are warmly invited to join us!
