Lippstadt - Marienkirche

About 20 years after Bernhard II von Lippe had founded Lippstadt in 1185, the construction of the Marienkirche started.

Bernhard, who fought many battles and burned down a couple of towns (eg Medebach) withdrew from secular politics and in 1194 entered the nearby Cistercian Marienfeld abbey.

He was experienced, educated and ambitious. In 1210 he was abbot in Duenamuende, from 1218 on he was bishop of Selonien, (today Selija in Latvia). In 1122 Wilhelm returned to Lippstadt and consecrated this church.

During the Thirty Years' War infamous Christian von Braunschweig (aka "Christian the Younger of Brunswick"), commanding 20 000 mercenaries against the "Catholic Alliance" had his headquarters in Lippstadt. His troops ransacked the whole area besieged Soest, seized Paderborn, looted the cathedral....

But there were times of waiting as well. So many of the soldiers, who were able to write, left their names here. To carve on the base of the tabernacle must have had a special thrill for the Protestant mercenary CONRADUS RENTIA ???.