Apostelkirche, Gothic church building in Münster, Germany
Apostelkirche is a Gothic church in the center of Münster, built in stone and marked by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and stone buttresses. It is listed as an architectural heritage monument in North Rhine-Westphalia and stands in the old town area.
Built from the second half of the 13th century as the Franciscan monastery church, it is the oldest purely Gothic church building in Westphalia. The friars settled in Münster around 1247 and received land with the help of Bishop Gerhard von der Mark around 1270; by 1284 the nave, choir and south aisle stood. The north aisle and two west bays were added in 1654–59. The monastery was dissolved in 1811, and after restoration by Karl Friedrich Schinkel the church was reconsecrated in 1822 for the Prussian military congregation.
The name Apostelkirche dates only from 1922, when a second Protestant church was built in Münster; before that the building was known by its original dedication to Catherine of Alexandria. The church became Protestant in 1822, after Karl Friedrich Schinkel restored it for the Prussian military congregation, and since 1840 it has served the civilian Protestant community. A Latin chronogram on the western choir vault, added in 1964, records the postwar rebuilding.
The church is in the old town of Münster and easy to reach on foot from the city center. It is worth checking opening times before your visit, as access may depend on scheduled services or the time of year.
The name Apostelkirche dates only from 1922, when a second Protestant church was built in Münster and the old Franciscan church needed a distinct name. Until then it was known by its original dedication to Catherine of Alexandria. A Latin chronogram on the western choir vault, added in 1964, records the postwar restoration.
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