World's oldest stone pulpit re-dedicated - a treasure of the Reformation!

World's oldest stone pulpit re-dedicated - a treasure of the Reformation!

In a festive ceremony on Reformation Day, the oldest Protestant stone pulpit in the world was inaugurated in the Heldburg town church in the Hildburghausen district. The pulpit, which dates back to 1536, was restored to its original splendor after extensive restoration and is now to be marketed to tourists as a unique contemporary witness to the early Reformation.

Mayor Christopher Other (CDU) expressed optimism about the impact of the rediscovery of the pulpit. “We hope that by marketing and revitalizing this historic site we can attract many visitors,” he said during the dedication. The pulpit was badly damaged before the restoration and was discovered in a dilapidated condition by Pastor Nikolaus Flämmig around three years ago.

The History of the Pulpit

The stone pulpit is an impressive work commissioned by Superintendent Friedrich Schwalbe. The sculptor Bernhard Friedrich from Halle created the pulpit, whose four stone images were inspired by models by the renowned painter Lucas Cranach the Elder. These pictures were created in the 1520s in Wittenberg, where Cranach worked partly in collaboration with Martin Luther. Particularly noteworthy is the presentation of law and gospel, a well-known doctrine of Protestantism.

But the history of the pulpit is not just a success story. It was destroyed 200 years ago because the important role it played in the Protestant tradition was not recognized. Instead, the church was redesigned in a uniform neo-Gothic style, relegating the pulpit to the background.

Costs and financing of the restoration

The comprehensive restoration of the historic pulpit amounted to around 185,000 euros and was financed by federal and Protestant church funding. The return of this pulpit to the Heldburg town church is seen as a great enrichment and the aim is to preach from there on special occasions.

The project also showed how important the preservation of such cultural assets is for the region. Susanne Pohler, consultant for art and cultural assets of the Evangelical Regional Church, emphasizes the importance of these events and gives the pulpit a place in the ecclesiastical and cultural landscape.

Overall, the consecration of the stone pulpit is a significant step for the Protestant community in Heldburg and could enrich tourism in the region. After all, the pulpit not only contributes to cultural and historical education, but also to strengthening community life.

For more information about the pulpit and the events associated with it, you can visit MDR and In South Thuringia to experience the local reporting. There are also interesting approaches to sustainability in fashion via The Reformation that are also worth a look.