St. Patrokli Church

St. Patrokli is of great example of Romanesque architecture in Westphalia. In 960, Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne transferred relics of St. Patroclus from Troyes to Soest. Since 964, they have been housed in the church. 

The original building, with a monumental westwerk, was completed before 1000. In the first half of the 11th century, the westwerk was rebuilt after a fire. The altar was consecrated on in 1118 and St. Stephen's chapel in 1149. In a further phase of construction a large hall crypt, the apse and a vaulted choir were installed. The Mary choir, the paradise and the East cloister were also built. The nave and the transepts were vaulted and the whole interior received painted decoration. This phase of construction ended in 1166. The western portion of the building was rebuilt from the last quarter of the 12th century and into the 13th century. The old westwerk was made to appear part of the nave by the removal of supports, partitioning, and the installation of new vaulting in the last one and a half bays.

The crypt was blown up in 1817. During an aerial attack in 1944, the north side of the westwerk and vaults were severely damaged. In the aerial attacks of 1945, the organ was destroyed, the apse was obliterated and there was severe damage to the spire and vaulting. The reconstruction began with the laying of the groundstone in 1949. By 1954, a new high altar had been erected, and the vaults and apse had been repainted. The southern cloister and the eastern and southern wings were renovated. The local painter Hans Kaiser created windows for the westwerk and secondary crypt.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Rathausstraße 14, Soest, Germany

Details

Founded: 11th century
Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Salian Dynasty (Germany)