A műemlékek sokszínűsége (A 28. Egri Nyári Egyetem előadásai 1998 Eger, 1998)

Előadások / Presentations - Angus FOWLER: The preservation of churches particulary timber-framed ones in Hessen

To a certain extent the large number of timber-framed churches in Hessen and their survival reflects the relative poverty of the region (particularly central and northern Hessen) into the 20th century. This is one reason for the danger to this important part of the architectural heritage in the mid 20th century similar to that now facing wooden churches in central and eastern Europe (especially Poland). The rural population wishes to forget its previous poverty and its difficult history before 1945 (or 1989 as the case may be). Besides this latent wish however existed (and exist) the more aggressive wishes of priests, church councils, church architects backed by modern theology and modern trends in church architecture and often supported by mayors to replace the symbols of former poverty by aggressive symbols of the materialstic present and future and set monuments to themselves. Among the reasons given: the timber-framed churches were often damp (as has often been shown this can easily be solved by inserting new and better foundations), they are too small (this is usually measured by the exceptional numbers of churchgoers on major festivals such as Christmas or Easter) or are old-fashioned and have no modern conveniences. The building of new churches was supported well financially in western Germany after 1945. Between the 1950s and the 1970s the official Lutheran and Catholic churches in western Germany were without question the richest churches in the world through their high income from church taxes. They could afford extensive programmes of building new churches without difficulty. As a result in Hessen mostly in the years between 1955 and 1975 over 100 old churches were abandoned and demolished to be replaced by new ones. Of these over 50 were timber-framed churches (i. e. 1/5th of the present surviving number!), several dating from the 16th century. Another 50 churches were left standing empty, about 15 of them timber-framed, also parts of other churches were destroyed or altered. Since 1945 also some 60 former synagogues were demolished in Hessen, a considerable number of these also timber-framed, In the years of the economic boom in western Germany after 1945 conservation of the architectural and cultural heritage ranked low in the priorities. There was no organized public lobby or awareness for preservation, a general lack of feeling for local history and above all practically no effective legislation for the preservation of historic buildings. In Hessen the various existing laws (for the former state of Hessen-Darmstadt and the former Prussian province of Hessen-Nassau) were not observed or carried out. The conservation authorities lacked funds and personnal. Demolition of churches and particularly timber-framed ones in Hessen reached a peak in the early 1970s. As a result of the imminent threat to churches near Marbrug/Lahn and particularly to the old church in Bürgeln academics and others from the university town of Marburg founded the Förderkreis Alte Kirchen (FAK) e. V. (literal translation = Supporting Circle of Old Chruches) with its legal seat in Marburg in autumn 1973. The first work of this new nongovernmental organization was to arouse public awareness about the fate of historic buildings and particularly churches especially timber-framed ones through publicity work in the media (press, television and radio) and by exhibitions, talk etc. Active steps were taken to prevent the demolition of churches imminently threatened. In many cases the Förderkreis had to struggle against church and civil authorities wanting to demolish old churches. As one of the main arguments used by those advocating demolition was church is church and if it can no longer be used for religious purposes then it must be demolished, - an argument which resulted from an ever increasing narrowing of the functions of church buildings both Protestant and Catholic which reached its exclusiveness in the 19th century - so the Förderkreis tried by various events (exhibitions, concerts, puppet theatre, bazaars etc.) to show that old churches could indeed be used for worthy and appropriate cultural uses. Alongnside this work to arouse public awareness the FAK also helped with other organizations to secure the passing of effective legislation for the preservation of historical buildings in Hessen in 1974, organizing a major conference in Marburg to achieve this end. During the European Architectural Heritage Year 1975 the FAK organized various events including a major exhibition in Marburg Castle on conservation activities in Hessen. The FAK also established first contacts with other m