Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Westwerk

The church was built around 1200 by Dutch colonists and probably Jerichow monks and dedicated to St. Nicholas. It replaced a wooden church that had been built on a Slavic sacrificial site. In 1450 conversions were made in the Gothic style, for example with ribbed vaulting in the choir. In April 1945, the city was 80% destroyed after a nearby Waffen SS shot and killed a US parlimentaire. The church was badly damaged by artillery fire and more than 50 percent of the tower was destroyed. From 1952 to 1958 the nave was repaired, the damaged tower remained as a memorial for decades. The tower, a massive westwork, got reconstructed from 2002 - 2013, but the "scar" is clearly visible.

The church was built around 1200 by Dutch colonists and probably Jerichow monks and dedicated to St. Nicholas. It replaced a wooden church that had been built on a Slavic sacrificial site. In 1450 conversions were made in the Gothic style, for example with ribbed vaulting in the choir. In April 1945, the city was 80% destroyed after a nearby Waffen SS shot and killed a US parlimentaire. The church was badly damaged by artillery fire and more than 50 percent of the tower was destroyed. From 1952 to 1958 the nave was repaired, the damaged tower remained as a memorial for decades. The tower, a massive westwork, got reconstructed from 2002 - 2013.

The westwork (façade) of the former collegiate church St. Johann (Baptist). The foundation stone was layed 1256. Though consecrated 1292, it is doubted, that the church was finished at that time, it took probably a decade or two longer than that. St. Johann is one of the oldest large gothic hall churches in Germany - and so may be connected to the cathedral and the Bartholomew Chapel in Paderborn, only 100kms southeast. The westwork is still clearly romanesque. It had no portal originally, the rosewindow was added wthin the first half of the 20th century.

A monastery was founded here by some Everward and his wife Geva around 854 as a house of secular canonesses, unmarried daughters of the saxonian nobility. Everhard and his wife Geva are only known from a legend, that was written down in the 15th century - and is very similar to many "foundation legends" of monasteries. There are parallels to the abbey in Gandersheim, - only a few years younger - and as well a secular house for noble unmarried ladies. Historian Dr. Wilhelm Kohl published some details in 1979, that connect Freckenhorst to the south of France! In 860 relics of "Bonifacii et Maximii" and "Eonii atque Antonii" were given to the new monastery by bishop Luidberts of Muenster. Aenius was archbishop of Arles 492-502, Antonius was bishop of Carpentras 463-473. Maximus was bishop in Riez and later abbot in Lerins and a bishop named Bonifatius is known in Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux within the 5th century. How did they all together travel to Freckenhorst? According to Dr. Kohl, Charles the Bald, Louis the German and Lothair I met in Koblenz in 860. Lothair and his entourage were just returning from Burgundy, that stretched far south in the 9th century. As the of "Bonifacii et Maximii" and "Eonii atque Antonii". Danes/Normans were threating to loot every abbey, town and village in southern France (what they actually did), the most valuable treasures (the relics) were transferred north - and so ended in that young monastery in Freckenhorst. The abbey existed upto 1812, and during centuries had a very colourful history. In 1473 all members of the convent got excommunicated due to a lawsuit. After Luther´s reformation the canonesses favoured to be "Lutherians" in future, so that some Anabaptists of the Muenster rebellion could find a secret asylum here, until bishop Franz of Waldeck found out, three years after the rebellion had ended in nearby Muenster. Catholicism returned finally to Freckenhorst during the 17th century. In 1116 the collegiate and the church burnt down, parts of the old westwork survived and got used in the construction of the new church, some parts of the westwork are belong to the older church. This is the new church, that got consecrated in June 1129 by Egbert, bishop in Muenster, a relative of and advisor to Lothair III. The westwork once had a narthex, that was demolished within the 19th century. Traces of the narhex can still be seen. The two round towers were the highest parts, when it was constructed, as the top of the middle part is younger. Most of the northern tower (left) is a reconstruction from 1859/60. Many more details can be found in: Kirche und Stift Freckenhorst, Jubilaeumsschrift zur 850. Wiederkehr des Weihetages der Stiftskirche am 04. Juni 1979, Warendorf 1979

A monastery was founded here by some Everward and his wife Geva around 854 as a house of secular canonesses, unmarried daughters of the saxonian nobility. Everhard and his wife Geva are only known from a legend, that was written down in the 15th century - and is very similar to many "foundation legends" of monasteries. There are parallels to the abbey in Gandersheim, - only a few years younger - and as well a secular house for noble unmarried ladies. Historian Dr. Wilhelm Kohl published some details in 1979, that connect Freckenhorst to the south of France! In 860 relics of "Bonifacii et Maximii" and "Eonii atque Antonii" were given to the new monastery by bishop Luidberts of Muenster. Aenius was archbishop of Arles 492-502, Antonius was bishop of Carpentras 463-473. Maximus was bishop in Riez and later abbot in Lerins and a bishop named Bonifatius is known in Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux within the 5th century. How did they all together travel to Freckenhorst? According to Dr. Kohl, Charles the Bald, Louis the German and Lothair I met in Koblenz in 860. Lothair and his entourage were just returning from Burgundy, that stretched far south in the 9th century. As the of "Bonifacii et Maximii" and "Eonii atque Antonii". Danes/Normans were threating to loot every abbey, town and village in southern France (what they actually did), the most valuable treasures (the relics) were transferred north - and so ended in that young monastery in Freckenhorst. - The abbey existed upto 1812, and during centuries had a very colourful history. In 1473 all members of the convent got excommunicated due to a lawsuit. After Luther´s reformation the canonesses favoured to be "Lutherians" in future, so that some Anabaptists of the Muenster rebellion could find a secret asylum here, until bishop Franz of Waldeck found out, three years after the rebellion had ended in nearby Muenster. Catholicism returned finally to Freckenhorst during the 17th century. In 1116 the collegiate, the church and the village burnt down - and a new church was constructed after that. This is the church seen here. It got consecrated in june 1129 by Egbert, bishop in Muenster, a relative of and advisor to Lothair III. Standing within the 13th century-cloister. The church is constructed in the basilica style. The westwork has lots of windows. Actually still today St. Bonifatius is known for its 12 bells. The oldest bell dates back to 1484. - More details can be found in: Kirche und Stift Freckenhorst, Jubilaeumsschrift zur 850. Wiederkehr des Weihetages der Stiftskirche am 04. Juni 1979, Warendorf 1979

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. Two evil snarling lions loitering on a windowsill of the eastern façade, that reminds on a westwork, but faces east. It is difficult to take photos of the façade, as the neighbouring buildings are very close to it. All the carvings on this side look - mint. They may be copies of the old ones. The cathedral got severly damaged end of WWII - and reconstructed in the 1950s. Here are the same lions as before - from a different point of view.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. Two evil snarling lions loitering on a windowsill of the eastern façade, that reminds on a westwork, but faces east. It is difficult to take photos of the façade, as the neighbouring buildings are very close to it. All the carvings on this side look - mint. They may be copies of the old ones. The cathedral got severly damaged end of WWII - and reconstructed in the 1950s.

In 640 an abbey was founded here by Iduberga (aka Itta, Ida), wife of Pepin I (aka Pippin the Elder), majordomus under three Merovingian kings and forefather of the Carolingians. After Pepin´s death Iduberga moved into the convent and lived the life of a nun, while her daughter Gertrude became the first abbess here. The abbey began as a community of nuns. After Irish monks were sent by the (Irish) Abbot Foillan to give support to the nuns, a "double monastary" developed. For most of the Middle Ages the abbey remained an "Imperial Abbey" and from the 12th century, the community slowly changed as the members then became canonesses regular who came from among the nobility. The old abbey church, erected from 1000 on and consecrated in 1046, was destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. After WWII the church was rebuilt to its 11th and 13th centuries architecture.