Herz Jesu Mattenbach

Herz Jesu Mattenbach is the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart in the Mattenbach district of Winterthur, canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Completed in the mid-1930s, it is a modernist parish church that still serves its community and rewards a short stop for its façade, stained glass and organ.

How did a Catholic church end up in Mattenbach?

Catholic worship was outlawed in the canton of Zurich after the Reformation of 1524. Winterthur saw its first Catholic service since then only in 1862. Mattenbach grew with the city's industrialisation in the late 1800s, and by the 1920s local Catholics wanted a church of their own. The plot was bought on 1 January 1929, the foundation stone was laid on 27 August 1933, and the church was consecrated on 28 October 1934. Today the congregation belongs to the largest Catholic parish in the canton, which unites several Winterthur communities.

What will you see outside?

The church has a longitudinal plan with an attached bell tower and faces southeast. Its façade is dominated by a large round arch framing a statue of Christ revealing the Sacred Heart. The tower holds four bells cast by Fritz Hamm. You will find the building where Unterer Deutweg meets Zeughausstrasse.

What is inside?

A vestibule under the organ loft opens into the nave through three swing doors. Tall rectangular windows give the interior a warm, yellow glow. Eight stained-glass windows by Giuseppe Scartezzini date from 1934 and 1935. The semicircular wooden choir screen can be resized to suit the congregation, and changes made after Vatican II stress the communal side of the liturgy. The main organ was inaugurated in 1969, built by Mönch and Prachtel, with 33 stops on three manuals and pedal. A smaller positive organ serves quieter services.

What was renovated recently?

Fässler und Partner carried out a renovation in 2017 and 2018. The choir screen was gilded and the Stations of the Cross received a terracotta-style finish.

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

The church stands in Mattenbach, in the east of Winterthur, at roughly 47.491 N, 8.736 E. It is reachable from the centre by local transport or on foot. Service times and contact details are on the parish website, herzjesu.ch, or by phone at 052 235 03 70. Visit in daylight to see the light come through the windows and stained glass.

Frequently asked questions

When was Herz Jesu Mattenbach consecrated?

On 28 October 1934, a little over a year after the foundation stone was laid.

Who made the stained-glass windows?

The eight windows from 1934–1935 are by Giuseppe Scartezzini.

Is the church still in use?

Yes. It is an active parish church; current service times are published at herzjesu.ch.

Is this the same as other Herz Jesu churches in Switzerland?

No. The name is common. This description covers the church in Winterthur-Mattenbach, canton of Zurich.