Rysum Church

The Rysum Reformed Church stands atop the highest point of the circular mound (Warft) in Rysum, East Frisia. The current stone church dates back to the 12th century and likely replaced earlier wooden structures. It houses one of Northern Europe's oldest playable organs, built in 1457, and is of major art historical importance.

History

Rysum’s village mound was established in early medieval times. A wooden church likely stood here by the 11th century, on the site of the former village assembly and livestock refuge during floods. A stone church replaced it in the 12th century.

In the 14th century, the original choir tower was replaced with a brick tower. The current nave, built in the 15th century, reused stone from the earlier church. The tower was renovated in 1585 and lost its spire in 1686. A simple wooden pulpit from 1801 remains in the interior.

Architecture

The church is 35.4 meters long and 10.1 meters high, built with tuff and Dutch bricks. The lower walls are mostly tuff stone, with bricks used above.

The 13th-century brick tower, connected to the nave by a large arch, contains a significant choir structure from around 1270. The Gothic nave, built in the 15th century, has pointed-arch windows and a simple rectangular hall with a wooden ceiling and organ loft.

Organ

The Rysum organ is the oldest instrument of its kind in northern Europe that still largely has its original pipes. It is also one of the oldest playable church organs. The exact date of its construction is not entirely known, but dates of 1457 and 1440 have been proposed. It was rebuilt in 1513. After undergoing several other modifications through the years it was restored to its 1513 condition by Jürgen Ahrend and Gerhard Brunzema in 1959. The organ has seven stops on one manual.

Address

Turmstraße 4, Rysum, Germany

Details

Founded: 15th century
Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Habsburg Dynasty (Germany)