Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Herford

After warlike situations, the collegiate which was in existence since 974 moved from Enger into the fortified town of Herford in 1414. Everything of value (of course the relics of Widukind) so came to Herford. The collegiate used the St. Johann church, as their collegiat church upto the secularisation in 1810. Originally this gothic hall church was the parish church of the 1224 founded "new town"-area in Herford. The construction of the church started 1240. When the collegiate moved in, the church got a very valuable interior, which got lost, due to an iconoclasm, that took place here in 1532, when everything that could be moved out was moved out - and burnt. Only the choir, being owned by the collegiate, was spared out. All the baroque furniture, we see today was installed within the 17th century. On the sides and on the galleries, the local guildes had their specific seats, that were proudly decorated. There were special seats for the guildes of weavers, bakers, shoemakers, tailors and others.

Built within the 13./14. century, for hundreds of years this church was used by the many pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Pope Julius II confirmed in 1510 the status of "St. Jakobi" as a church just for the Santiago-pilgrims. Due to the "Herford Vision", the oldest known Marian apparition north of the Alpes (940 or 1011), Herford had a great attraction to these. The town offered four hospitals to the pilgrims at that time. After the reformation, when catholic pilgrims were not favourable visitors any longer, the city-council closed the church - and was used as a stable. In 1590 it was reopened - as a lutheran church, what it still is. A strange object shown in the St. Jakobi church is this rib of a whale. It was given to the church by the former mayor of Herford Anton Brudtlacht in 1589. It is not the only whalebone in german churches Even bigger bones can be seen in "St. Maria im Kapitol" in Cologne. www.flickr.com/photos/roland-rossner/2786317321/ another is displayed in the Cathedral of Magdeburg: www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4795593117/ A huge whale-rib can be seen in Gandersheim abbey www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5706420469/ Meanwhile I have learned that these bones are called "hierozoika" a Greek word designating items from the animal world hallowed by being mentioned in the bible. Hundreds of such bones still hang in european churches. Mr. Nicholas Redman has published several books about. Here is his website: www.whalebones.co.uk/index.html

After warlike situations, the collegiate which was in existence since 974 moved from Enger into the fortified town of Herford in 1414. Everything of value (of course the relics of Widukind) so came to Herford. The collegiate used the St. Johann church, as their collegiat church upto the secularisation in 1810. Originally this gothic hall church was the parish church of the 1224 founded "new town"- area in Herford. The construction of the church started 1240. When the collegiate moved in, the church got a very valuable interior, which got lost, due to an iconoclasm, that took place here in 1532, when everything that could be moved out was moved out - and burnt. Only the choir, being owned by the collegiate, was spared out. All the baroque furniture, we see today was installed within the 17th century.

Well, not three but seven (or more) members form the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (UOGB), but me and my camera.... - I heard the orchestra twice over the last years. If you want a nice evening full of music and british humour - buy a ticket and have fun. Here are (fltr): Dave Suich (worked with "Screaming Lord Sutch"), Peter Brooke Turner (worked with "Shaking Stevens") and Hester Goodman (worked with "The Hairy Marys"). All very concentrated. Here is the UOGB-website www.ukuleleorchestra.com/ Here is the sound: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW8mF2be0I0

This is, what is left of one of the most important, medieval nunneries in Northern France. The abbey Notre Dame was founded by the Merovingians around 660. Charlemagne´s sister Gisela was abbess, his daughter Rotrude was nun here. In 789 under Louis the Pious the abbey in Herford (about 600kms northeast), the oldest nunnery in the Duchy of Saxony, was founded as a "filia" of this convent. The abbey once had three churches and was widely known for the holy relics, kept here. The collection got lost and all buildings were demolished after the French Revolution. Only this small Romaneque structure, once part of a transept, just opposite Soisson´s large cathedral can still be found.