A chapel from its slumber

The clay chapel in Hüllhorst-Oberbauerschaft, which was built in the 1940s, lay almost forgotten in the forest until recently. It lay dormant for decades, surrounded by trees and known only to a few. It was only after extensive tree felling in the course of the bark beetle infestation that the chapel reappeared in 2022. Its renovation made this extraordinary place accessible to the public again and now invites you to pay a special visit. The location in the Wiehengebirge mountains and the simple beauty of the chapel make it a place of contemplation.

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.

#ortsteiloberbauerschaft

Openings

Accessible from the outside at all times.

Directions & Parking facilities

A visit can be combined with a walk or hike in the Wiehengebirge. There are no parking facilities directly at the chapel.

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