St. Valentin, Gothic church in Kiedrich, Germany

St. Valentin is a late Gothic basilica in Kiedrich, built of reddish-brown stone with a steep slate roof, a square tower with a pointed spire and red clock faces, and tall pointed-arch windows. Inside, a central nave is lined by pointed arches and dark carved pews; a pale stone balcony with tracery spans the width beneath three stained-glass windows, and a brass chandelier hangs from the ribbed vault.

The side aisles date from 1380; the nave and choir were built at the end of the 15th century, and the church was completed in 1493. Relics of St Valentine came from Eberbach Abbey around 1350, and pilgrim donations paid for the building. The Michaelskapelle with its charnel house stands in the walled churchyard beside the church.

The Kiedricher Chorbuben, first documented in 1333, sing a Germanic form of Gregorian chant in Latin at the Sunday High Mass, except during the summer holidays. The countertenor Andreas Scholl began as a choirboy here; his sister Elisabeth was the first girl admitted to the schola.

The church stands in the centre of Kiedrich, its west front facing the walled churchyard with the Michaelskapelle and its charnel house beside it. The Kiedricher Chorbuben sing at the Sunday choral high mass every week except during the summer holidays, so Sunday mornings are busy with worshippers. Visitors should keep to the side aisles while services are held.

The organ, built around 1500 by an unknown builder, is the oldest playable organ in Hesse. Sir John Sutton financed its 1858 renovation by the Belgian builder August Hooghuys, and Orgelbau Kuhn restored it between 1985 and 1987. A pedal was added in 1722.