Holy Trinity Church, Lutheran church in Eibenstock, Germany
Holy Trinity Church in Carlsfeld is a plastered Baroque central building on a stretched octagonal plan, about 22 by 25 metres, with a curved octagonal dome roof and a small wooden tower rising from the dome. The tower's copper-clad base carries clock faces, and its eight-sided lantern with carved balustrades is topped by a gilded six-pointed star. The white interior has three tiers of galleries and a starry painted ceiling.
Veit Hans Schnorr von Carolsfeld funded the church, parish house and school in 1682 for the workers of his hammer works. Built 1684–1688 to a design attributed to Wolf Caspar von Klengel, it was supervised by carpenter Johann Georg Roth and master builder Christoph Schwartze; George Bähr, later architect of Dresden's Frauenkirche, may have worked as a carpenter. It was consecrated on 2 September 1688 and restored in 1843, 1958 and 1996–2000.
The name refers to the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The church also hosts cultural events alongside services. Once a year, at the Kirmes fair, wooden slides are opened to reveal the painted portraits of founder Veit Hans Schnorr von Carolsfeld and his wife set into the altar predella.
The church stands in Carlsfeld, not in Eibenstock's centre; the surrounding area is snow-covered in winter, so approach on foot with care. The interior is used for services and cultural events, so check local notices before planning a visit. The building has been under monument protection since the 1970s.
The altar's predella holds portraits of the founder Veit Hans Schnorr von Carolsfeld and his wife, hidden behind wooden slides. They are opened only once a year, at the Kirmes fair. Carpenters may also have included George Bähr, later architect of Dresden's Frauenkirche, in the 1684–1688 construction.
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