St. Josef (Winterthur-Töss)

St. Josef Church (Kirche St. Josef) in Winterthur is a Catholic parish church in the Töss district, canton of Zurich, Switzerland. It sits at Nägelseestrasse 46, southwest of the old town, and dates from the years just before the First World War. It is a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in early twentieth-century church architecture in the Zurich region.

When was it built and by whom?

The Catholics of Töss laid the foundation stone in 1913, and the church was consecrated on 30 August 1914. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland places its construction in 1912–1913, while the parish itself dates the start of work to 1913 and the opening to 1914. It was Winterthur's third Catholic church, after St. Peter and Paul (completed 1868, the mother church of the city's Catholic parishes) and Herz Jesu in Mattenbach.

The architect was Adolf Gaudy of Rorschach, on Lake Constance, who designed and planned the building.

What makes it worth visiting?

The cantonal heritage inventory describes St. Josef as an outstanding example of Catholic church building from the early 1900s in the canton of Zurich. Together with the parish centre built in 1968–69, it forms an ensemble of architectural and social-historical interest, reflecting how a Catholic community grew in a historically Protestant region.

The interior was remodelled in 1976–77 by Robert Tanner and Felix Lötscher, the architects of the parish centre. Their work put the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council into practice, so the interior follows modern liturgical needs rather than the original 1914 layout.

How do you get there?

Töss lies in the southwest of Winterthur, about 3 km from the main station. Local buses and regional trains to Töss station are the easiest options; from there it is a short walk. The coordinates are roughly 47.4927° N, 8.7025° E. Winterthur itself is 20–25 minutes by train from Zurich.

When should you go?

This is a working parish church, so plan a visit outside service times or attend a Mass to see the interior in use. Current opening hours are published by the parish at kath-winterthur.ch. Each September, European Heritage Days open many monuments to visitors. The visit combines well with a walk around Töss and the nearby former Dominican convent.

Frequently asked questions

Where is St. Josef in Winterthur? At Nägelseestrasse 46 in the Töss district.

Who designed it? Adolf Gaudy of Rorschach. The church was consecrated on 30 August 1914.

Is the interior original? Not entirely. Robert Tanner and Felix Lötscher remodelled it in 1976–77 to reflect the liturgical reforms of Vatican II.

How large is the parish? Almost 3,000 Catholics, making it the fifth largest of Winterthur's eight Catholic parishes.