Stiftskirche St. Marien, Lutheran church in Obernkirchen, Germany.

The Stiftskirche St. Marien is a church whose oldest part is the massive Romanesque westwork with a double gable, topped by two pyramidal spires. The nave is a three-aisled Gothic hall from the second half of the 14th century, and the north facade has five gables. A small ridge turret sits over the crossing.

The church was founded around 1167 under Bishop Wernher von Minden. Over the centuries, the Gothic style replaced earlier Romanesque elements, showing how the building evolved through different architectural periods.

The 1496 consecrated Passion Altar, carved in limewood and gilded, stands in the church with a predella of Obernkirchen sandstone. Its panels hold more than 200 figures, with Latin inscriptions such as "crufixus est pro nobis" on the central Crucifixion. The wings, originally opened only on feast days, show Mary and Saint Anne on their reverse.

The church grounds are generally accessible from the outside, and there are regular opportunities to visit the interior. Check ahead to learn about current visiting hours or planned tours available in town.

The 1496 Passion Altar holds more than 200 carved figures. Its Latin tituli label each scene, from "orat patre" in Gethsemane to "noli me tangere" at the meeting with Mary Magdalene. The wings, opened only on feast days, show Mary and her mother Anna on their reverse.