Reformierte Kirche, Pfarrhaus und Kaplanei

The Reformed Church, Rectory and Chaplaincy in Kirchberg (canton of Bern) form a historic cluster of buildings in the village centre, on the right bank of the Emme river. A Protestant church anchors the group, with the parsonage and the former chaplaincy beside it. It makes an easy stop on a short village walk, and the place has a far longer past than its present mix of industry and housing suggests.

What is this place?

The church first appears in records in 1208. The building you see today dates from 1506 to 1507, the final years of the Middle Ages and just before the Reformation reached Bern. A dedication to Saint Martin is sometimes mentioned, but historians consider it uncertain. The church probably belonged to Selz Abbey in Alsace from 994 and was formally incorporated into it in 1308, with the abbey paying the parish vicar. Around 1825 the painter Samuel Weibel captured the church and rectory from the west in a watercolour, now held by the Swiss National Library.

Why does Kirchberg have such deep roots?

In 994 the Burgundian royal estate at Kirchberg was given to Selz Abbey. In the 13th century the lords of Thorberg held the local bailiwick. Ulrich von Thorberg fortified the settlement in 1278, and in 1283 King Rudolf of Habsburg granted it town rights and a weekly market. A real town never developed, though. Between 1398 and 1429 authority passed to Bern, which bought the abbey's remaining holdings, including the church patronage rights, in 1481.

What can you see nearby?

You view the church and neighbouring buildings from outside, set among the village houses. The church stands in the heart of the settlement, close to the Emme, where a bridge replaced an earlier footbridge in 1640. In the municipality you will also find the Kleehof, built in 1765 to 1768 as a well-known model farm of Johann Rudolf Tschiffeli. The hamlet of Bütikofen, farmland and forest, belongs to Kirchberg too.

How do you get there?

Kirchberg lies in the Emmental region, in the former Burgdorf district, a few kilometres from Burgdorf. The Bern to Zurich road, built in 1756 to 1764, passes through the village, and a motorway junction has served it since 1965. The nearest railway station is Alchenflüh on the Burgdorf-Solothurn line, opened in 1876. From the village centre the church is a short walk.

When should you visit?

The exterior can be seen all year. Pick a day with good light if you want photographs of the whole ensemble. The interior may be open during services and parish events, so check with the parish before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the church in Kirchberg? It was first mentioned in 1208, and the present building dates from 1506 to 1507.

Is this the same Kirchberg as the one in Tyrol? No. This Kirchberg is in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, on the Emme river.

How long does a visit take? About 20 to 30 minutes covers the ensemble and a stroll through the village centre.

Can I get here by public transport? Yes. The closest station is Alchenflüh on the Burgdorf-Solothurn line, and the village sits on the main Bern to Zurich road.