Reformierte Kirche Bremgarten AG

The Reformed Church in Bremgarten AG (Reformierte Kirche) is a neo-Gothic parish church on Zugerstrasse in the Obere Vorstadt quarter, on the road leading toward Zug. It sits on a gently raised, landscaped forecourt a short walk from the historic centre of this Aargau town.

Why was a Protestant church built here?

Bremgarten is a predominantly Catholic town, and its Protestants had no building of their own for decades. Reformed services began in 1845 in the former arsenal (Zeughaus), and an independent Reformed parish has existed since 1874. In 1898 five architecture firms were invited to compete for the church design, and Julius Kelterborn of Basel took the prize. Construction ran from 1899 to 1900, with consecration on 30 September 1900. Funding came from local donations and a Swiss-wide Reformation collection for Protestant churches in diaspora regions. For years the church served Protestants across the whole Freiamt area.

What does the exterior look like?

The style is late historicism with an English-influenced Gothic Revival character. The walls are ashlar of shell limestone from Othmarsingen and Mägenwil, framed by sandstone window surrounds. The street front has a portal whose gable overlaps a tall pointed-arch window, and the tympanum carries a relief of a rose bush. Each side wall has three pointed windows. A low, compact tower with an octagonal spire stands against the left side of the nave; its original slate roof gave way to copper in 1935. A bronze bust of the reformer Heinrich Bullinger has stood in front of the tower since 1954, and the original wrought-iron fence still encloses the forecourt.

What is inside?

A short hall nave sits under an open timber roof in English hammerbeam style. The choir ends in three sides under a fan vault, and a wooden gallery runs along the west end. The pointed windows hold simple stained glass with oak leaves, a rose and vines, made by the Kuhn workshop in Basel. The interior was refurbished around 1965–1970, and a full renovation by Zurich architect Ernst Stahel in 1999–2000 repaired the stonework, added a storage annex, and redesigned the choir, floor and seating.

How do you get there and when should you visit?

From the centre of Bremgarten, walk toward Zugerstrasse. The town lies in a bend of the Reuss river and has good connections to Zurich and Wohlen. Visit in daylight and combine the church with a stroll through the old town. The interior is mainly open during services and parish events, so check dates with the Reformed parish beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Reformed church in Bremgarten AG built?

Between 1899 and 1900, and it was consecrated on 30 September 1900.

Who designed it?

Julius Kelterborn of Basel, winner of the 1898 competition.

Is it the same as the Catholic town church of St. Nicholas?

No. St. Nicholas is Catholic and stands in the old town. This is the Protestant church in the Obere Vorstadt quarter.

Whom does the bust in front of the tower honour?

Heinrich Bullinger, the reformer linked to Bremgarten. The bust has stood there since 1954.