Kirche Martin Birmensdorf

Kirche St. Martin in Birmensdorf (ZH) is the Reformed parish church of Birmensdorf, a municipality in the Knonauer Amt region of canton Zürich, a few kilometres southwest of the city of Zürich. It ranks among the oldest sites of worship in the Zürich countryside: the building stands on the foundations of an earlier church, and the earliest traces of worship here are dated to the 9th century. The cantonal heritage inventory lists it as an object of supra-municipal importance.

What will you see?

The church grew in stages and mixes several periods. The lower part of the tower is Romanesque. The tower top dates from 1571 and ends in an unusual slanted cut that locals call the "Käsbissen", roughly a "bite of cheese". The Baroque nave was built in 1659, and it is one of the earliest post-Reformation churches in the canton designed without a chancel arch.

Inside, look for the 20th-century fittings by Zürich architect Friedrich Wehrli, above all the pulpit wall.

What is its history?

From the Middle Ages the parish was tied to the Benedictine abbey of St. Blasien in the Black Forest. According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, the church was incorporated into the abbey in 1325. Originally the parish also covered St. George's church in the Reppisch valley and chapels in Aesch and Islisberg. The abbey held the right to appoint the priest, and the endowment is said to have come from the lords of Sellenbüren before 1140.

In the 16th and 17th centuries the village was a centre of the Anabaptist movement. Early in the 17th century villagers set up a free school that children from Aesch also attended.

How do you get there?

Birmensdorf lies on the road from Zürich towards Aargau and is linked to Zürich by bus. The church stands in the village centre, so a visit fits easily into a short walk. The interior is usually open during services and parish events, so check the parish calendar for times.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a Catholic or Protestant church?

The cantonal heritage inventory describes it as Reformed. Some catalogues give a different denomination, so the Zürich heritage office entry is the one to trust.

How old is the church?

The earliest traces of worship on the site are dated to the 9th century. The present nave dates from 1659 and the tower top from 1571.

What does "Käsbissen" mean for the tower?

It is a local term for the tower's slanted top, shaped like a bitten piece of cheese.

Are there related historic sites nearby?

St. George's church in the Reppisch valley once belonged to the same parish, which shows how wide its reach was.