Evangelical church Weinfelden

The Evangelical Church in Weinfelden (German: Evangelische Kirche Weinfelden) is a Romanesque Revival church with Art Nouveau touches, completed in 1904 in the centre of the town in the canton of Thurgau, Switzerland. It stands on Kirchgasse and is one of the town's most rewarding sights for anyone interested in church architecture and early 20th-century design.

What is the story behind the building?

Today's church is the third on this site. The second, consecrated in 1726, was built by Jakob Grubenmann of Teufen, a celebrated Swiss master carpenter, and for generations it was shared by two denominations under a simultaneum arrangement. That arrangement was dissolved in 1902, and the Protestant congregation then built a church of its own, put up between 1902 and 1904 where the Grubenmann church had stood. It was dedicated in 1904 to a design by the Zurich firm Pfleghard & Haefeli (Otto Pfleghard and Max Haefeli).

What will you see?

The church is a centrally planned building on a cross-shaped footprint, with a tower rising above the crossing. The GSK art guide describes its style as a successful blend of angular Romanesque Revival massing and the soft, flowing lines of early Art Nouveau. Inside, look for:

• four galleries wrapped around the congregation,
• the pulpit wall by Hermann Binz of Karlsruhe,
• stained glass by Jakob Georg Röttinger, made after designs by Christian Jakob Schmidt.

The Thurgau heritage office rates the interior as being of outstanding cultural and historical importance and calls for the fabric of the building to be preserved.

How do you get there?

The church is in the centre of Weinfelden on Kirchgasse, a short walk from the main streets. Weinfelden has a railway station, so the easiest approach is by train followed by a walk through the town. The parish offices and archive are close by.

When should you visit?

This is a working parish church, so you are most likely to get inside during services or parish events. Opening times vary by season; the parish website, evang-weinfelden.ch, has current details. The exterior and tower can be admired at any time.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Protestant church in Weinfelden built? Construction ran from 1902 to 1904, and the church was dedicated in 1904.

Who designed it? The Zurich architecture firm Pfleghard & Haefeli.

What style is it? Romanesque Revival massing combined with early Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) forms.

Is it the same as the Catholic church in Weinfelden? No. The Catholic parish has its own, separate church; this one belongs to the Evangelical Reformed congregation.