St. Valentinuskirche Bann

With the rapid development of the parish of Bann, driven by the increasing population in the 18th and 19th centuries, the problems of organized pastoral care intensified. Yet, the old Valentinus chapel (built in the late 15th century for about 300 souls) still served as a religious focal point. However, it was increasingly unable to fulfill its equally important role as a liturgical gathering place for the church community. The space shortage was particularly evident on Sundays and public holidays, during the celebrations of the Valentinus festivals and similar occasions. This emergency pointed to the need for an extension or a new building.

The efforts to find a solution provide an interesting insight into the property conditions of the time. Bann was a poor village. Therefore, the municipal and church councils turned to the Bavarian King Ludwig I in a courageous letter dated June 26, 1844, requesting permission for a collection throughout the kingdom to build a new church. However, this initiative failed because the parish was unable to raise the required capital of 2,000 guilders (the currency unit in Southern Germany until 1873).

On November 10, 1848, the parish leaders decided, due to rising costs, increasing debts, and low grain prices, to postpone the construction of a new church or the expansion of the old church indefinitely. This was a fateful decision. The state commission in Homburg, which had previously been favorably disposed towards a new church building in Bann, seemed so surprised by this decision that it delayed for a long time in informing the higher authorities.

In the following years, pastors and parish administrators repeatedly tried to advance the church building project, but rivalries and indecision, agitation, and constant tensions within the parish repeatedly delayed the project.

It was only under Pastor Graf that the decisive breakthrough was achieved. Our chronicle describes in detail the long path that the pastor and the community had to take until the approval and financing of a new church.

Opening times

Friday

14:00–16:00

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The laying of the foundation stone for the construction of the Valentinus church took place on May 15, 1881. The sandstone for construction was, with a few exceptions, broken in the quarry on the bricks. With the rapid development of the parish spell, conditioned by the increasing population in the 18./19. Century, the problems of an orderly pastoral care increasingly intensified. But the old Valentinus church (built at the end of the 15th century for about 300 souls) was still fulfilling its function as a religious center.

However, his equally important task as a liturgical meeting place of the ecclesial community could be less and less fulfilled. The lack of space was particularly evident on Sundays and public holidays, at the festivities of the Valentinusfest and similar occasions. This state of emergency pointed to an extension or a new building.

The effort to come to a solution gives an interesting insight into the ownership of the time. Bann was a poor village. Therefore, the municipal councils and the church councils turned in a courageous letter of 26 June 1844 to the Bavarian King Ludwig I with the request for approval of a collection in the entire kingdom for the construction of a new church. However, this initiative failed because the parish was unable to raise the required share capital of 2,000 guilders (currency unit in southern Germany until 1873). On November 10, 1848, the leaders of the parish agreed to postpone, for an indefinite period, the construction of a new church or the extension of the old church due to rising prices, increasing debts, and low grain prices. That was a momentous decision.

The State Commissariat in Homburg, which had benevolently campaigned for a new church in Bann, was apparently so surprised by this decision that it hesitated for a long time to inform the higher authorities. In the following years, pastors and parish administrators had repeatedly tried to push ahead with church construction, but rivalries, indecision, incitement and constant tensions within the parish repeatedly delayed the church construction project.

Only under Pastor Graf succeeded the decisive breakthrough. In our chronicle is described in detail the long way, the pastor and church had to go to the approval and funding of a new church.