In 1326, the Lippe ruler Simon I received permission from Pope John XXII, who was reigning in Avignon, to build a chapel in the town of Rheda. This saved the faithful the long walk to the parish church of St. John, which stood outside the town in today's Protestant cemetery, especially in winter.
With the change of sovereignty in 1365, the town's chapel became the burial place of the House of Tecklenburg. The introduction of the Reformation in Rheda (1527) also affected the importance of the chapel. Under Count Conrad zu Tecklenburg's daughter, Anna zu Bentheim, the chapel was finally given a tower extension (1559) and a baptismal font (1567). It was now a Lutheran town church.
In 1588, Count Arnold zu Bentheim-Tecklenburg introduced the Calvinist doctrine to the Lordship of Rheda. For this reason, the town church was rebuilt from 1618 under Count Adolf zu Bentheim-Tecklenburg. The original dimensions of the chapel from the Catholic period and the tower from the Lutheran period remained untouched. The interior of the church was gutted, the square nave was fitted with four octagonal pillars and vaulted in the Renaissance style. It probably only had a plank ceiling before. To compensate for the height of the vaults, the side walls of the building were walled up above the cornices with a 1 m high jamb and provided with outer supporting walls to bear the weight of the vaults. The church roof, which originally faced the street from the gable end, was turned 90 degrees from the eaves. The tower was given two additional storeys with a slated spire (1656).
A pulpit was built inside the church at the front, to the left of the choir, a table replaced the altar and a gallery built around the corner on the south and west sides provided additional space. At the beginning of the 18th century, a "Prieche" (princely gallery) was added for the count's family, access to which was moved under a roof in 1852 when the sacristy was built.
The old pews were replaced during the 1970/71 renovation. The church was fitted with underfloor heating and a new stone floor covering. The gravestones and the galleries were removed except for the "Prieche". In 1972, the current organ from Werner Bosch, Sandershausen, was installed with 16 stops, two manuals and a pedal. A life-size wooden cross by the sculptor Edelgarde vom Berge (1904-1982) from more recent times stands at the back of the church.
Opening times:
The Rheda town church is open to visitors (open church) at the following times:
All year round on market days: Wednesday and Saturday from 10.00 to 12.00 and additionally from April to October Tuesday and Thursday from 15.00 to 17.00.
The church services take place on Sundays from 11.00, on the 1st Sunday of the month with communion. On every 2nd weekend of the month, central services are held at different times (possibly also on Friday or Saturday) and at different locations. The normal Sunday service is therefore canceled.
With the change of sovereignty in 1365, the town's chapel became the burial place of the House of Tecklenburg. The introduction of the Reformation in Rheda (1527) also affected the importance of the chapel. Under Count Conrad zu Tecklenburg's daughter, Anna zu Bentheim, the chapel was finally given a tower extension (1559) and a baptismal font (1567). It was now a Lutheran town church.
In 1588, Count Arnold zu Bentheim-Tecklenburg introduced the Calvinist doctrine to the Lordship of Rheda. For this reason, the town church was rebuilt from 1618 under Count Adolf zu Bentheim-Tecklenburg. The original dimensions of the chapel from the Catholic period and the tower from the Lutheran period remained untouched. The interior of the church was gutted, the square nave was fitted with four octagonal pillars and vaulted in the Renaissance style. It probably only had a plank ceiling before. To compensate for the height of the vaults, the side walls of the building were walled up above the cornices with a 1 m high jamb and provided with outer supporting walls to bear the weight of the vaults. The church roof, which originally faced the street from the gable end, was turned 90 degrees from the eaves. The tower was given two additional storeys with a slated spire (1656).
A pulpit was built inside the church at the front, to the left of the choir, a table replaced the altar and a gallery built around the corner on the south and west sides provided additional space. At the beginning of the 18th century, a "Prieche" (princely gallery) was added for the count's family, access to which was moved under a roof in 1852 when the sacristy was built.
The old pews were replaced during the 1970/71 renovation. The church was fitted with underfloor heating and a new stone floor covering. The gravestones and the galleries were removed except for the "Prieche". In 1972, the current organ from Werner Bosch, Sandershausen, was installed with 16 stops, two manuals and a pedal. A life-size wooden cross by the sculptor Edelgarde vom Berge (1904-1982) from more recent times stands at the back of the church.
Opening times:
The Rheda town church is open to visitors (open church) at the following times:
All year round on market days: Wednesday and Saturday from 10.00 to 12.00 and additionally from April to October Tuesday and Thursday from 15.00 to 17.00.
The church services take place on Sundays from 11.00, on the 1st Sunday of the month with communion. On every 2nd weekend of the month, central services are held at different times (possibly also on Friday or Saturday) and at different locations. The normal Sunday service is therefore canceled.
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General Information
Parking Available
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Entrance Free
Directions & Parking facilities
Rathausplatz Rheda. Parking lot: Bleichstr.
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