Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: St.-Marien-Kirche

A castle named "Posduwlc" was mentioned already in the 11th century. The first mention of Pasewalk as a town dates back to 1276. Pasewalk was always a pawn in the territorial interests of the Pomeranian dukes and the Brandenburg margraves, so that the rule changed several times. In 1250 Pasewalk came under Brandenburg rule and was reacquired by the Pomeranians in 1354. The medieval town consisted of the lower town founded by the Wends with Nikolaikirche and a newer upper town founded by German settlers with Marienkirche. The town was granted extensive trading rights in 1192. In the Middle Ages, the inhabitants lived primarily from agriculture and brewing. Pasewalk was a member of the Hanseatic League and converted to Lutheran doctrine in 1535. During the Thirty Years' War, Pasewalk, which was under the protection of the Swedish army soon, was burned and almost completely destroyed in 1630 by imperial troops. The small Swedish garrison was cut down to the last man by the attackers. Only few inhabitants survived the massacre. With the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the town was assigned to Swedish Pomerania. The hall church was built between 1325 and 1350 in the style of North German brick Gothic. The oldest parts were the foundation walls of the tower and parts of the west wall from the time after 1250. From 1325 to 1350 the nave was built. At that time the tower was raised by a third floor and decorated with rich ornamentation. At the beginning of the 15th century, a polygonal chapel was added to the north of the building. During the Thirty Years' War the imperial troops burned down the tower. It collapsed into the nave and destroyed the vaults of the nave as well as the roof. Prussian Frederick William I allowed the reconstruction in 1734. The altar, an organ and confessionals from Marienkirche in Stettin (today Szczecin), which had been destroyed by lightning, were placed in Pasewalk in 1795. In the 19th century the tower was raised by another floor with a gallery. Unlike Pasewalk, the church survived WWII almost undamaged. Only some windows and the roof were damaged. The roof was covered with a makeshift roof in 1947. In 1958, the tower was secured. The steeple and the clock were repaired in 1983. However, the first damage to the tower became apparent in December 1983, when the narrow masonry pillars of the second floor at the back of the tower collapsed. On December 3, 1984, the northwest corner of the tower collapsed; a day later, another section collapsed. For safety reasons, it was decided to blow up the entire tower on December 8. While plans were still being made to rebuild the steeple from 1985, a hurricane in 1986 caused further damage to the roof of the still unsecured church. In 1987 and 1988, reconstruction of the tower began. The nave

A castle named "Posduwlc" was mentioned already in the 11th century. The first mention of Pasewalk as a town dates back to 1276. Pasewalk was always a pawn in the territorial interests of the Pomeranian Dukes and the Brandenburg margraves, so that the rule changed several times. In 1250 Pasewalk came under Brandenburg rule and was reacquired by the Pomeranians in 1354. The medieval town consisted of the lower town founded by the Wends with Nikolaikirche and a newer upper town founded by German settlers with Marienkirche. The town was granted extensive trading rights in 1192. In the Middle Ages, the inhabitants lived primarily from agriculture and brewing. It was a member of the Hanseatic League and converted to Lutheran doctrine in 1535. During the Thirty Years' War, Pasewalk, which was under the protection of the Swedish army soon, was burned and almost completely destroyed in 1630 by imperial troops. The small Swedish garrison was cut down to the last man by the attackers. Only few inhabitants survived the massacre. With the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the town was assigned to Swedish Pomerania. The hall church was built between 1325 and 1350 in the style of North German brick Gothic. The oldest parts were the foundation walls of the tower and parts of the west wall from the time after 1250. From 1325 to 1350 the nave was built. At that time the tower was raised by a third floor and decorated with rich ornamentation. At the beginning of the 15th century, a polygonal chapel was added to the north of the building. During the Thirty Years' War the imperial troops burned down the tower. It collapsed into the nave and destroyed the vaults of the nave as well as the roof. Prussian Frederick William I allowed the reconstruction in 1734. The altar, an organ and confessionals from Marienkirche in Stettin (today Szczecin), which had been destroyed by lightning, were placed in Pasewalk in 1795. In the 19th century the tower was raised by another floor with a gallery. Unlike Pasewalk, the church survived WWII almost undamaged. Only some windows and the roof were damaged. The roof was covered with a makeshift roof in 1947. In 1958, the tower was secured. The steeple and the clock were repaired in 1983. However, the first damage to the tower became apparent in December 1983, when the narrow masonry pillars of the second floor at the back of the tower collapsed. On December 3, 1984, the northwest corner of the tower collapsed; a day later, another section collapsed. For safety reasons, it was decided to blow up the entire tower on December 8. While plans were still being made to rebuild the steeple from 1985, a hurricane in 1986 caused further damage to the roof of the still unsecured church. In 1987 and 1988, reconstruction of the tower began. The western portal

A castle named "Posduwlc" was mentioned already in the 11th century. The first mention of Pasewalk as a town dates back to 1276. Pasewalk was always a pawn in the territorial interests of the Pomeranian Dukes and the Brandenburg margraves so that the rule changed several times. In 1250 Pasewalk came under Brandenburg rule and was reacquired by the Pomeranians in 1354. The medieval town consisted of the lower town founded by the Wends with Nikolaikirche and a newer upper town founded by German settlers with Marienkirche. The town was granted extensive trading rights in 1192. In the Middle Ages, the inhabitants lived primarily from agriculture and brewing. It was a member of the Hanseatic League and converted to Lutheran doctrine in 1535. During the Thirty Years' War, Pasewalk, which was under the protection of the Swedish army soon, was burned and almost completely destroyed in 1630 by imperial troops. The small Swedish garrison was cut down to the last man by the attackers. Only a few inhabitants survived the massacre. With the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the town was assigned to Swedish Pomerania. The hall church was built between 1325 and 1350 in the style of North German brick Gothic. The oldest parts were the foundation walls of the tower and parts of the west wall from the time after 1250. From 1325 to 1350 the nave was built. At that time the tower was raised by a third floor and decorated with rich ornamentation. At the beginning of the 15th century, a polygonal chapel was added to the north of the building. During the Thirty Years' War, the imperial troops burned down the tower. It collapsed into the nave and destroyed the vaults of the nave as well as the roof. Prussian Frederick William I allowed the reconstruction in 1734. The altar, an organ and confessionals from Marienkirche in Stettin (today Szczecin), which had been destroyed by lightning, were placed in Pasewalk in 1795. In the 19th century, the tower was raised by another floor with a gallery. Unlike Pasewalk, the church survived WWII almost undamaged. Only some windows and the roof were damaged. The roof was covered with a makeshift roof in 1947. In 1958, the tower was secured. The steeple and the clock were repaired in 1983. However, the first damage to the tower became apparent in December 1983, when the narrow masonry pillars of the second floor at the back of the tower collapsed. On December 3, 1984, the northwest corner of the tower collapsed; a day later, another section collapsed. For safety reasons, it was decided to blow up the entire tower on December 8. While plans were still being made to rebuild the steeple from 1985, a hurricane in 1986 caused further damage to the still unsecured church. In 1987 and 1988, reconstruction of the tower began. After the fall of communism, a citizens' initiative was founded in April 1990, from which a support association for the reconstruction of the church emerged. On its initiative, the tower core received a brick wall and the new 26-meter-high spire. The spire no longer corresponds to its former shape.

Slavic Ranen lived on the island of Ruegen and the mainland opposite the island. They were independent heathens up to the middle of the 12th century, and so maybe the last non-Christian people in Central Europe. In 1168 Danish King Valdemar I defeated the Ranen and destroyed "Jaromarsburg" their main sanctuary. After the Danish victory, the Slavic princes became feudatories of the Danish crown and accepted the Christian faith. They founded Strale, which prospered because of the rich herring stocks in the waters, many merchants settled here who saw this as their basis for trade. Already in 1234 Slavic Prince Wizlaw I granted the village the town charter (Lübsches Stadtrecht). Stralsund now became an important trading town in the Baltic region, mainly due to settlers from Westphalia. The German settlers clearly outnumbered the Slavic population already around 1300. From 1325 on Stralsund belonged to Pomerania-Wolgast. In the 14th century, it was the most important Hanseatic city in the southern Baltic region after Lübeck. The 15th century was Stralsund's heyday. Long-distance trade was the most important economic factor. Around 1450, 350 merchants were involved in such trade. In 1488, 50 skippers founded the "St. Marienbruderschaft der Schiffer", the forerunner of the still existing "Stralsund Schiffercompagnie". As early as 1525, the majority of Stralsund's citizens converted to the Protestant faith. After the Thirty Years' War Stralsund belonged to the Kingdom of Sweden for almost 200 years. In 1815 Stralsund came to Prussia. - A "Marienkirche" at this place was first mentioned in 1298. In 1382 the tower collapsed due to the inadequately fortified subsoil and smashed parts of the church building. Shortly afterwards, work began on a new building. In 1416, the foundation stone was laid for the new massive tower, which rested on a grate and pile structure about 14 m high. The construction of the spire, however, did not begin until 1475. Work on the spire lasted until 1478. Even from the water, the sailors could see the about 151 metres high spire. Struck by lightning, the pointed spire burnt down in 1647 and was replaced by a broad baroque dome, which was completed in 1708. As a result, the church tower today is about 104 m high. During the Protestant iconoclasm in 1625 very most of the church´s furnishing was destroyed. During the French occupation (1807-1810) the church was used as a stable.

Slavic Ranen lived on the island of Ruegen and the mainland opposite the island. They were independent heathens up to the middle of the 12th century, and so maybe the last non-Christian people in Central Europe. In 1168 Danish King Valdemar I defeated the Ranen and destroyed "Jaromarsburg" their main sanctuary. After the Danish victory, the Slavic princes became feudatories of the Danish crown and accepted the Christian faith. They founded Strale, which prospered because of the rich herring stocks in the waters, many merchants settled here who saw this as their basis for trade. Already in 1234 Slavic Prince Wizlaw I granted the village the town charter (Lübsches Stadtrecht). Stralsund now became an important trading town in the Baltic region, mainly due to settlers from Westphalia. The German settlers clearly outnumbered the Slavic population already around 1300. From 1325 on Stralsund belonged to Pomerania-Wolgast. In the 14th century, it was the most important Hanseatic city in the southern Baltic region after Lübeck. The 15th century was Stralsund's heyday. Long-distance trade was the most important economic factor. Around 1450, 350 merchants were involved in such trade. In 1488, 50 skippers founded the "St. Marienbruderschaft der Schiffer", the forerunner of the still existing "Stralsund Schiffercompagnie". As early as 1525, the majority of Stralsund's citizens converted to the Protestant faith. After the Thirty Years' War Stralsund belonged to the Kingdom of Sweden for almost 200 years. In 1815 Stralsund came to Prussia. - A "Marienkirche" at this place was first mentioned in 1298. In 1382 the tower collapsed due to the inadequately fortified subsoil and smashed parts of the church building. Shortly afterwards, work began on a new building. In 1416, the foundation stone was laid for the new massive tower, which rested on a grate and pile structure about 14 m high. The construction of the spire, however, did not begin until 1475. Work on the spire lasted until 1478. Even from the water, the sailors could see the about 151 metres high spire. Struck by lightning, the pointed spire burnt down in 1647 and was replaced by a broad baroque dome, which was completed in 1708. As a result, the church tower today is about 104 m high. During the Protestant iconoclasm in 1625 very most of the church´s furnishing was destroyed. During the French occupation (1807-1810) the church was used as a stable.