90-year-old church caretaker preserves 600-year-old tradition in Bruck!

90-year-old church caretaker preserves 600-year-old tradition in Bruck!

Johann Hilger, the 90-year-old church caretaker of St. Andreas Church in Wildenholzen, has been caring for the church with great dedication for decades. The church, which is around 600 years old, is located on his property and can only be reached via the property. Hilger and his 88-year-old wife Maria have been involved in the church since 1987 and are responsible for opening the church for services and events. The Catholic parish of Bruck celebrates mass every six to eight weeks in the church, which offers space for up to 50 people, as Merkur reports.

Hilger takes care of the church by providing hymn books, organizing floral decorations and cleaning. Despite his advanced age and the challenges that age brings, he emphasizes the importance of the church in his life and receives the support of his family. His commitment is remarkable, and his passion for the church is also reflected in the care of the historical details, including a wooden figure of Saint Sebastian from 1460.

Historical significance of the church

The St. Andreas Church is built in the late Gothic style and has an eventful history. Hilger has a great interest in the church's past and knows numerous details that underline its historical significance. The church has belonged to the Bruck parish since 1967, previously it was part of Altenburg. Particularly worth mentioning is the large bell, which was damaged during the war but was rediscovered intact in Hamburg in 1948.

Hilger also has the time-consuming job of ringing bells, although he does this less often than before. Church care is a matter close to his heart and he sees the church as a central point in his life.

Another place of worship

Another St. Andreas church in northern Germany, located in Cloppenburg, also has an interesting history. It stands out for its baroque style, which is rather rare in the region. Martin Kessens, a regular visitor to this church, describes it as a place of peace and light, especially compared to the noise of the nearby traffic intersection. He feels safe in the church and appreciates the atmosphere, which offers peace even outside of service times, as Kirche und Leben reports.

When entering the Cloppenburg St. Andreas Church, visitors are greeted by a light-flooded nave with a baptismal font and an Easter candle. The large altarpiece shows the crucifixion of Saint Andreas, the namesake of the parish, which was already mentioned in the 9th century under the name Krapendorf. Kessens highlights how the church houses various statues, including a particularly impressive depiction of Saint Joseph, which conveys a sense of security and calm.

Both churches, which are in Wildenholzen and Cloppenburg, are not only places of faith, but also places of remembrance and community. They connect people through their history, architecture and, above all, through the commitment of those who care for them and want to preserve them for future generations.