St. Matthiaskirche, Gothic church in Bad Sobernheim, Germany.
St. Matthiaskirche is a three-aisled late Gothic hall church of the 15th century, built of four bays with cross-ribbed vaults carried on octagonal piers. The early Gothic choir was built first, the nave followed in 1482; the tower stands northwest of the choir and the sacristy is attached to the south side.
A predecessor church was consecrated in 976 by Archbishop Willigis; its tower survives northwest of the choir, though its upper storey and entrance are newer. The early Gothic choir was built first, followed by the nave of the three-aisled late Gothic hall church in 1482. Architect Ludwig Hofmann carried out a full renovation and roof restoration from 1897 to 1900, and further securing work followed from 1959 to 1969.
The church is dedicated to Saint Matthias, and the parish belongs to the An Nahe and Glan church district of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland. The choir windows were designed by Georg Meistermann, whose abstract glasswork replaced earlier glazing; the altar baldachin capitals carry angel figures painted in the building period. Gravestones from the 15th to 17th centuries are set into the walls.
The church stands in the centre of Bad Sobernheim, and its exterior, including the medieval tower northwest of the choir, can be viewed from the surrounding streets at any time. For the interior and the 1739 Stumm organ, check the parish's announced opening times before travelling, as access is not continuous.
The organ was built in 1739 by Johann Michael Stumm, not 1738. A 2003–2005 restoration by Rainer Müller reconstructed the pedal windchest, action and three wedge bellows. It has 25 stops on two manuals and pedal, tuned to Valotti at a1 = 466 Hz, about a semitone above modern pitch.
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