Reformierte Kirche Brütten

Reformierte Kirche Brütten is the Reformed parish church of Brütten, a village in the Winterthur district of the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. It stands on a plateau between Zurich and Winterthur and is the village's best-known historic landmark.

What is the history of the church?

A church in Brütten is first documented in 1223. Its patron saint, Gallus, suggests the parish is older still. In the Middle Ages, Einsiedeln Abbey held the right of patronage. The abbey kept it after the Reformation and gave it up only in 1834, when Zurich took it over. Until 1832, the abbot of Einsiedeln chose Brütten's Reformed pastors from a shortlist of three names put forward by the city of Zurich.

Who designed the present building?

The current church dates from 1907–1908 and replaced the earlier building. It was designed by the Winterthur architects Robert Rittmeyer and Walter Furrer. After 1906 their joint practice produced buildings at the transition from Art Nouveau to the Heimatstil, a regional revival style, and the Brütten church is among their listed works. The building has its own volume in the Swiss art guide series (Schweizerische Kunstführer no. 388, Bern 1986), written by Hans Martin Gubler. It is the natural starting point for details of the architecture and furnishings.

What should you know about the village?

Brütten sits on a plateau west of the Kempt and Töss valleys, with the main Zurich–Winterthur road passing to the south. Besides the village centre, the municipality includes the hamlets of Strubikon, Birch, Eich and Obereich. The village kept a farming character until around 1970. Housing estates of single-family homes have gone up since the 1960s, and the population has grown from under 500 in 1950 to more than 2,200 today. The church is the historic core around which this commuter village has developed.

How do you get there and when should you visit?

The church is in the centre of the village, at roughly 47.474 N, 8.674 E. From Zurich or Winterthur, drive along the main road between the two cities and take the short climb up to the plateau. Interior access depends on the parish's opening hours, so check with the Brütten Reformed parish before you go. The exterior can be viewed at any time of year.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Brütten church built? The present building dates from 1907–1908, but a church is recorded here as early as 1223.

Who was the architect? Robert Rittmeyer and Walter Furrer, both of Winterthur.

Is the church still in use? Yes, it serves the Reformed congregation of Brütten. Opening hours are set by the parish.

Where can I read more about the building? In Hans Martin Gubler's 1986 Schweizerische Kunstführer volume and in the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland entry for Brütten.