Verena Stäfa

St. Verena Catholic Church (Kirche St. Verena) in Stäfa is the Roman Catholic parish church of this lakeside municipality on Lake Zurich, in the canton of Zurich. It belongs to the Diocese of Chur and the Oberland deanery, and stands at Kreuzstrasse 15, 8712 Stäfa. The church was consecrated in 1948 and the parish founded in 1949.

What is this church?

It is a modern Catholic church built after the Second World War for the Catholic community of an area that had been Protestant since the Reformation. The dedication is deliberate: Saint Verena, linked to nearby Zurzach, has been Stäfa's patron for centuries, and she appears on the municipal coat of arms holding a comb and a water jug.

Why Verena?

According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, a church dedicated to Verena arose in Stäfa between 930 and 958, when the village split from the old parish network of the island of Ufenau. A Verena chapel owned by Einsiedeln Abbey is recorded around 970. Einsiedeln held the patronage until 1824, when it passed to the Zurich government. That medieval church is now Reformed. The Catholic parish took over the dedication, but its building is a separate and much younger one.

What will you see inside?

The highlight is the set of stained-glass windows by Dan Rubinstein, in place since 2003. They show scenes from the Old Testament and are listed by zuerich.com as a sight in the region. For anyone interested in modern sacred art, they are the main reason to step inside.

How do you get there?

Stäfa sits on the northeastern shore of Lake Zurich, roughly 20 km from central Zurich. S-Bahn trains run along the right-hand lakeshore from Zurich, and the church is a short walk through the town from the station. Coordinates are about 47.240 N, 8.727 E.

When should you visit?

This is a working parish, so aim for times outside services. Check the Stäfa Catholic parish website for current service and opening hours. Late spring to early autumn is the most pleasant season, when a visit pairs easily with a lakeside stroll or a boat trip to Ufenau.

What else is nearby?

The island of Ufenau, with its two ancient churches, lies just offshore. In Stäfa itself, look at the old Reformed church by the lake, whose lower tower is Romanesque and whose tower was rebuilt in 1835–1837. The municipality also provides information boards on local history.

Frequently asked questions

Is St. Verena in Stäfa an active church? Yes, it is a functioning Catholic parish with regular services.

Is it the tenth-century Verena church? No. The old Verena church is now Reformed. The Catholic church was only consecrated in 1948.

What makes the interior special? Dan Rubinstein's Old Testament stained-glass windows, installed since 2003.

Where exactly is it? At Kreuzstrasse 15 in Stäfa, canton of Zurich, close to Lake Zurich.