Katholische Kirche Richterswil

The Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Richterswil (Pfarrkirche Heilige Familie) is the parish church of the lakeside town on Lake Zurich, in the canton of Zurich. Built just before the First World War, it still serves the local Catholic community and welcomes visitors looking for a quiet interior after a walk along the shore.

What is the history of the church?

Richterswil has a Reformed heritage, and its Catholics long belonged to the parish of neighbouring Wädenswil. Work on their own church began in 1913, with the foundation stone laid on 3 August. Architect Adolf Gaudy of Rorschach drew up the plans, and the Gebrüder Ferrari company of Wädenswil did the building. Volunteer labour from parishioners kept the project to roughly ten months. The altar painting of the Holy Family, after Murillo, was painted by Edwin Bachmann, an artist from Richterswil.

The church was blessed on 14 June 1914. On 1 January 1916 Bishop Georg Schmid von Grüneck made Richterswil an independent parish.

How did the building change over time?

• 1923: first organ,
• 1930: new bells cast by Fritz Hamm in Staad,
• 1933: two altars added,
• 1939: for the 25th anniversary the high altar was simplified and an eastern side aisle added,
• 1977–1979: major renovation after the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, led by Josef Riklin of Wädenswil; Josef Rickenbacher of Steinen designed the new furnishings (altar, ambo, tabernacle, baptismal font, a sculpture of St. Anthony),
• 2014: a second organ installed in the choir.

The 1970s works removed the old high altar, side altars, choir stalls and wood panelling, and reopened the round "Ochsenaugen" (ox-eye) windows in the chancel. The result is a bright, restrained interior.

What is worth seeing inside?

Organ enthusiasts have two instruments to hear. The main organ, built by Orgelbau Kuhn in 1979, has 18 stops, two manuals and mechanical action. The choir organ was made in 1934 by Hans Eisenschmid of Munich for a church in Oberding, Bavaria; after restoration in 2012 it came to Richterswil and was inaugurated on 12 April 2014. The church also hosts the "Richterswiler Konzerte" concert series.

How do I get there, and when should I visit?

Richterswil sits on the rail line along the western shore of Lake Zurich, with S-Bahn services from Zurich, so no car is needed. The parish office is at Erlenstrasse 32. In recent years Sunday Mass in the parish church has been at 10:00; the current timetable is on kath-richterswil.ch. Outside services the doors are not always open, so plan your visit around a service or a concert.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the church of St. Joseph? No. The parish church in Richterswil is dedicated to the Holy Family (Heilige Familie).

Who designed the church? Adolf Gaudy of Rorschach; construction was completed in 1914.

Is there another Catholic church in Richterswil? Yes. The parish also covers Samstagern, where the new Marienkirche, built in 2012, stands. It is a separate church from the one described here.

Can I hear the organs? Yes, the church runs the "Richterswiler Konzerte" series; the parish publishes the dates.