Church Saint-Etienne de Bütgenbach

The Saint-Etienne church of Bütgenbach was built with the beginning of the year 1930. It is the work of the architect malmedien Henry Cunibert. It is its greater realization.

History

Bütgenbach was already very important at the religious level as of the 12th century, considering it is there that was held the parish church gathering the villages of Bütgenbach, Nidrum, Weywertz, Sourbrodt, Robertville and Elsenborn. Thus until the medium of was held with the site of the current cemetery a Gothic church of style, built in several phases between. It was a construction with simple but vast nave joined with a massive bell-tower (12th century). The main entrance was located laterally compared to the axis of the building.

The church not answering more the increasing demands of the number of faithful at the beginning of the 20th century, it was decided in 1925 by the town council to take measures. Two possibilities were offered to Bütgenbach and its inhabitants: to change and increase the current church or to build a new building. It is only in 1929 qu ' it will be decided to build a new church. The project was entrusted to the Cunibert architect, who had already built some churches in the neighborhoods. The first stone was posed on March 7th, 1929. After two years and half of construction, the new church of style néo-novel will be devoted on November 1st, 1931.

The old church remained with the abandonment as from 1932 until in 1954, date on which, the decision was made to demolish the building, in spite of the fact that this one is classified. Certain pieces of furniture and flagstones of the old church were saved and brought in the new church, or they will be exposed under the bell-tower. One can admire also there bottoms-batismaux of the 15th century which had also left the old church.

Description of the building

The church is located in the middle of the village, on the place of the market. Its very high bell-tower makes it possible to see it with kilometers with the round. The bell-tower is capped with a roof giving a Rhenish pace to the unit. With the top of the transept is held a more massive and broad tower, nevertheless less high. The principal frontage, located beside the bell-tower, is marked on the one hand by the presence of a large central rosette, on the other hand by the massive close relation with three openings (under the rosette). The main entrance is under the porch.

The current building is of style néoroman and is, like the majority of the churches, in the shape of cross. With the top of the transept is held an octagonal tower massive but not extremely high. The sacristy is on the right-sided of the building and account two stages connected by a small octagonal turret.

Inside, one discovers large and high principal nave placed between two side aisles, rather high they too. Jubé all the width of the building occupies and carries a large still functional organ. Under the bell-tower the few tomb stones and the baptismal funds of the 15th century are, all saved at the time of the destruction of the old church. The church Saint-Etienne de Bütgenbach is classified since the end of the year 1990.

Photographs

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