St. John's Church

St. John's Church (Reformierte Kirche St. Johann) in Bassersdorf is the Reformed parish church in the middle of this Zurich-canton village, a short distance from Zurich Airport. It belongs to the Reformed parish of Breite, which unites Bassersdorf, Nürensdorf, Brütten and Lindau. Archaeologists found a Roman villa beneath the building, so the spot has been in use for nearly two thousand years.

What is the history of the church?

Excavations revealed a Romanesque church as the oldest religious building on the site. Written records first mention it in 1370 as a branch chapel of Kloten, dedicated to St. John. Bassersdorf gained baptismal rights in 1509, a benefice was endowed in 1518, and the first resident pastor took office in 1520, shortly before the Reformation.

When the Reformation arrived, Bassersdorf and Nürensdorf became one independent parish within the Regensberg chapter, with the Zurich city council holding the patronage. That is why the church is Protestant today.

Is there a Roman connection?

Yes. Renovation work in 1963 uncovered the walls of a Roman villa rustica under the church. Pottery fragments place it in the 1st century AD. The village sat on a Roman and medieval road between Zurich and Winterthur. The settlement itself appears in records around 1010 (as Basselstorff) and in 1155 (as Bazzelstorf).

How do you get there?

Bassersdorf lies on the edge of the middle Glatt valley in the Bülach district. The railway arrived in 1877 on the Winterthur–Baden line. After the airport line opened in 1977 the station moved to the edge of the village, so the church is a short walk from the platform. Coordinates are 47.4444 N, 8.6278 E, and Zurich is under half an hour away by train or car.

What else is worth knowing about Bassersdorf?

The village grew fast: about 310 people in 1634, 1,092 in 1900 and 7,515 in 2000. Baltenswil joined in 1931. A Catholic church, St. Franziskus, has stood here since 1973 and serves a parish that also covers Kloten and Nürensdorf. Do not confuse it with St. John's, which is the Reformed church.

Frequently asked questions

Is St. John's Church in Bassersdorf Catholic? No, it is Reformed. The village's Catholic church is St. Franziskus, open since 1973.

How old is the oldest part of the church? The oldest structure found is Romanesque. Records confirm it in 1370 as a branch chapel dedicated to St. John.

Are there really Roman remains underneath? Yes. Work in 1963 exposed the walls of a 1st-century Roman villa.

Can I visit without a car? Yes. Bassersdorf has a station on the Winterthur–Baden line, and the church is in the village centre.