St. Bonifatius, building in Tauberbischofsheim, Stuttgart Government Region, Bade-Württemberg, Germany
St. Bonifatius is a parish church in Tauberbischofsheim built between 1964 and 1967 according to plans by architect Erwin van Aaken. The building has a square footprint with a distinctive tent-like roof made of two intersecting gables, large windows in the roof gables, light wooden ceilings inside, and floors of grayish-yellow marble.
St. Bonifatius was built from 1964 to 1967 to plans by Erwin van Aaken, after postwar arrivals of displaced persons and Bundeswehr members swelled Tauberbischofsheim's population. Ground investigations in March 1964 led to a pile foundation on rock about 15 m deep; the first sod was cut on 7 May 1964 and the foundation stone laid on 8 November 1964. Ludwig Mönch blessed the church on 27 November 1966 and celebrated the first Mass; auxiliary bishop Karl Gnädinger consecrated it on 30 September 1967.
The name St. Bonifatius refers to an early Christian missionary whose life is depicted in the bronze reliefs at the entrance. These artworks show scenes of his travels and work, making the church a place where visitors can experience the story of a revered saint visually.
The church stands east of the Tauber, with the free-standing 35.7-metre bell tower at the south-east corner and the parish house at the south-west corner; paths lead through small courtyards past both before reaching the entrance. The main doors are on the west side, and the two side chapels flank the entrance inside. The parish belongs to the Seelsorgeeinheit Tauberbischofsheim, so service times are shared with St. Martin.
The free-standing campanile at the south-east corner is 35.7 m high and built of concrete slabs. Its five bronze bells were cast in 1973 at the Karlsruhe bell and art foundry. The tower, parish house and church were erected together; the parish hall at the north-east corner followed in 1983.
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