Klein St. Martin

Klein St. Martin is a former church in Cologne. This was formative for the panorama on the Rhine promenade . Also the Greater Saint Martin church as well as several other churches determined the panorama of Cologne. Among them were many buildings that lay along the Rhine. The tower of the church has been destroyed after the horror of the Second World War. However, the old church tower was rebuilt.

Its geographical location

If you want to visit the tower, find it in the lower part of the breakthrough road from east to west. This leads from Heumarkt am Rhein to the Neumarkt. At the rings, which are located between Augustinerstraße and Pipinstraße, stands the old church tower. This belonged to the Little St. Martin Church and the former ship of the church was built on the city wall. The west side was built on the Roman wall. The construction was in parallel to the former Obermauren road. The parish once belonged to the southeast corner of the Roman city. Also the Mars square as well as the Rhine suburb belonged to it. This dates from medieval times and parts of Heumarktes were among them. The northern side of the Heumarkt was not counted as a parish, but the parish integrated the Rheingasse.

History worth knowing

At the laying of the cornerstone and the year of origin of the former church there are no traditional data. However, scientists believe that the church was built at the time when the Rhine suburb was included in the wall ring. Historians assume that the church was built in the 10th century, in the second half. It was therefore a very old church and there is a first mention from 1130. In records of shrine records you can make the church from 1130 to 1140 tangible. The small church is first mentioned in 1172. There are written sources from 1172 to the year 1176, in which the church occurs by name. At that time, the crypt was consecrated and this is clear from the documents. When the shrine cards were introduced, the church can also be documented.

Since they wanted to distinguish the little church from the abbey, they called it "Little St. Martin" . It is likely that the church was rebuilt around 1460-1486. A new tower was added on the west side. It was also converted into a hall church with five ships. Johann von Langenberg, a master builder in time, built a vault in 1489. It has a gothic-style kink helmet with a high orientation. Anton Woensam, an artist of the time, made a city view. This Cologne view dates back to 1531 and you can see this parish church on it.

The interior

This Martinskirche had a precious interior and furnishings. The parishes of Cologne got more power and became stronger. This was also evident in the imposing buildings and precious furnishings. On top of that, the church of St. Martin was free to choose her pastor. This right was for the Church, and in 1317 there were thirteen members. The college consisted of these electors who were parishioners. One family even had four participants and their names were Overstolzen. A suggestion from the members came to the abbess of St. Mary in the Capitol convent. Then the abbess passed on the proposal to the Domprobst.

In 1554 the church got an organ work. This was an appreciation for the church and Vitus ten Bendt was the name of the organ builder. The church kept the organ until the year 1804. 1802 took place a repeal and later the organ was shipped to St. Bartholomew. The Catholic Church is located in Porz Urbach . In 1912, the organ was partly renewed, as in 1962. Until 1802, the church of Klein St. Martin weight. Napoleon introduced the secularization and in 1803 the church came to the church of St. Mary in the Capitol. The monasteries and pens were canceled and thus the church came to the neighboring church. The church was closed and its nave was used to auction non-clerical affairs.

Demolition and Additions

In 1824 the church nave was demolished. The building was very dilapidated and only the tower remained. This had four floors and remained alone. The Church of St. Mary had no more western towers in the 18th century. It probably did not exist in the 17th century. Therefore, their bells were hung in Little St. Martin. This has been practiced since 1637. During the Second World War it came to the total fire of the tower. However, the tower was considered a cultural heritage , which was in the Rhine panorama of Cologne. Therefore, the church tower was rebuilt after the war.

However, a change was made because the spire was dull and built in Romanesque style. This one also built in pyramid form, in low art. Therefore, this does not protrude over the Rhine front. The top of the tower is decorated with a flag. It is a weathervane created by the artist Elmar Hillebrand. Martin of Tours, the saint, can be seen on it. In 1954, the lower floor was given a chapel for devotional purposes. It has a Bronezportal, which was created in 1963. The artist Heribert Calleen created this portal. The tabernacle was also created by this artist in 1963.

Church bells

There are many interesting things to tell about the history of the bells. There was a double use of the bell tower. The bells were used for the parish and also for the church of St. Mary in the Capitol. This church is adjacent to St. Klein Martin. The church once had four bells and two were very large. These served as the main ring and were intended for Sundays. The largest bell weighed about 1100 kg. Edmund Pippin from Cologne was responsible for her last casting in 1721. It was of course consecrated to the patron saint, Saint Martin. In 1455 and 1570 bells were also cast. Derich and Heinrich von Coellen poured the second large bell in 1571. It weighed 900 kg and was dedicated to Martin and Saint Sergius. There were daily fairs and the roof rider had a smaller bell. Johann Schursgyn cast 1500 timepieces that weigh 120 kg. Its diameter is 56 centimeters and in 1836 it was sold. She came to Seligenthal, St. Antonius and there she is still today.

In 1637, the westwork of St. Mary's Church collapsed . The church had five bells, all from the years 1338, 1447 and 1508. Among them was a storm bell of the city. It was also rung in fires and called by the people "Bram-Klock". The timepiece then came to Klein St. Martin. The church had a larger tower and after the church was demolished, the tower still served as the bell tower of St. Mary's Church. The pin was lifted and the big bells sold. They came to Boslar, where the largest still rings today. In 1836, bells were purchased and consecrated to the saints. The bells are dedicated to Martin, Mary and Barbara and weighed 6000 kg. A, cis' and e'were their sounds. The First World War spared these bells, but they were destroyed in the firestorm of World War II. Therefore, since then no bells ring in the room.

Old Memories to the Church

There is a woodcut by Anton Woensam. Then you can see a section where you can also see the St. Martin's Church. It comes from the "Great View of Cologne". The Church of St. Mary in the Capitol is also visible, which can still be seen on the woodcut with its west tower.

Heribert Calleen is the artist of a bronze door that adorns the entrance in the Andach Chapel. The artist made the portal door in 1963. In the middle of the bronze portal he has integrated a detail. The detail is round and decorates the center of the door. In it one sees Jesus Christ with the crown of thorns, sitting on a wooden stool, wounded. In 2017, the artist died and is buried at the Melaten Cemetery .

So, if you visit Greater St. Martin , then take a look right here at our Little St. Martin! And of course you will live with us! Because you can reach the old town on foot!