St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church

St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Benken (St. Peter und Paul) is the parish church of Benken in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, set in the Linth plain below the Benkner Büchel hill. Locals call it the "Unterkirch", the lower church. Its main appeal is age and history: this is one of the oldest church sites in the Gaster district.

What is the history of the church?

The dedication to Saints Peter and Paul, paired with St. George's in neighbouring Kaltbrunn (the "Oberkirch"), is read by historians as a sign of a settlement linked to Reichenau Abbey. In the 11th century the Counts of Lenzburg gave the Benken estate and its church to the convent of Schänis, which held it until the Helvetic Revolution.

Benken also holds an early medieval puzzle. Charters of 741 and 744 were issued at a monastery called Babinchova, where Meinrad taught around 824. Its location is still unknown, and excavations at the parish church in 1983–1984 did not find the hoped-for trace.

The original parish also covered Kaltbrunn, Gommiswald, Rieden and Maseltrangen, which split off gradually between the 10th century and 1789. After the Reformation of 1529, Benken returned to the Catholic faith under pressure from Schwyz.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The church stands in Benken (SG) at 47.199 N, 9.006 E, between Lake Zurich and the Walensee, close to Uznach and Kaltbrunn. Do not confuse it with Benken in the canton of Zurich, a different municipality entirely. Reach it by car or regional bus from Uznach; the walk across the flat Linth plain is easy.

What else is nearby?

On the Benkner Büchel stands the pilgrimage church of Maria Bildstein. A wayside shrine dates from 1519, a chapel followed in 1848, and the present church was built in 1966. Combine the climb with a visit to the parish church. The valley landscape itself was reshaped by the Linth correction (1807–1823) and later land improvement (1941–1964).

Frequently asked questions

Is the church in Benken Catholic? Yes, it serves the Catholic parish of Benken in the canton of St. Gallen.

Why is it called "Unterkirch"? The name sets it apart from St. George's in Kaltbrunn, known as the "Oberkirch".

Was there a medieval monastery in Benken? Eighth-century sources mention a monastery called Babinchova, but its site remains unknown.

Is this the same as Benken near Zurich? No. They are two separate places in different cantons.