Bodelschwingh Clay Chapel

The history of the Waldkapelle

The Waldkapelle is more than just a spiritual place - it tells the story of Gustav von Bodelschwingh, the so-called "clay pastor", who died in 1944 and was buried in the neighboring private cemetery. This cemetery is another special place on the site, as some of his family members found their final resting place here. The chapel was built using a simple but solid loam construction method, which Bodelschwingh, inspired by his time in Africa, made famous in Germany.

The "Dünner-Lehmbrote building method" - architecture for everyone

After the First World War, building materials were scarce and expensive construction methods were out of reach for many people. Gustav von Bodelschwingh saw a solution in clay construction. With the "Dünner-Lehmbrote building method" that he developed, he created a method that made building with simple means possible for everyone. This method was used particularly in rural areas and enabled families and communities to build their own houses and chapels. The forest chapel in Oberbauerschaft was also built using this method - members of the von Bodelschwingh family built the chapel together with children from the village. Today, this heritage makes the clay chapel a monument to communal building and regional history.

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