St. James (german: St. Jakob) is a Lutheranism, Lutheran (originally Catholic) church in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, which serves as a church on the Way of St. James, pilgrimage route to St. James Church in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It has two towers (south tower: 55.2 m, 57.7 m north tower).

History and description

The church was built between 1311-1484. Its east chancel was completed in 1322, nave built from 1373-1436, and west choir, which bridges the street, from 1453-1471. The church was consecrated in 1485 by the Bishop of Würzburg. In 1525 the peasant leader Florian Geyer read aloud the articles of the revolting peasants from its west chancel. Its western gallery contains the famous Holy Blood altarpiece of the Würzburg wood carver Tilman Riemenschneider, carved 1500-1505, (''illustrated below'') which includes a rock crystal reliquary cross (c. 1270). The altar includes scenes of the entry into Jerusalem (right wing), Lord's Supper (shrine) with Judas as central figure and the Mount of Olives (left wing). Other important relics include the High Altar (1466 by Friedrich Herlin, a pupil of Rogier van der Weyden ; also known as the Twelve Apostles Altar) in the east choir, which represents on its back side the oldest depiction of the city of Rothenburg and rare images of the Jakobs pilgrim legend, as well as an altar of Tilman Riemenschneider and Mary Coronation altar with sculptures from different centuries, including the Riemenschneider school. The stained glass windows of the east chancel are adorned with valuable images from 1350-1400 AD, including the left window (about 1400) with scenes of the life of the Virgin Mary, central window (circa 1350) with scenes from Christ's life and passion, and right window (about 1400) representing Christ's work of redemption and sacraments.

Great Organ

The great pipe organ, organ in St. Jakob was built by Rieger Orgelbau (Vorarlberg, Austria) in 1968, with 69 Organ stop, stops (108 ranks, c. 5,500 pipes), Tracker action and electric action for the stops. It can be played from the main Organ console, console (4 Manual (music), manuals and Pedal keyboard, pedal) and from a two-manual console on the back. The specification:

Gallery

File:Rothenburg ob der Tauber 023.JPG, ''Holy Blood altarpiece'' File:Rothenburg ob der Tauber 014.JPG, ''Holy Blood altarpiece'' Detail: Entrance of Christ into Jerusalem File:Rothenburg ob der Tauber 018.JPG, ''Holy Blood altarpiece'' Detail: Last Supper File:Rothenburg ob der Tauber 020.JPG, ''Holy Blood altarpiece '' File:Main altarpiece - St.Jakob - Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Germany 2017.jpg, Twelve Apostles Altar

References

* ''Short Guide to St. Jakobs Lutheran Church in Rothenburg ob der Tauber'', undated pamphlet.

External links

Tourist Information (German)

German web site
* Another web sit
St. Jakob
{{Authority control Buildings and structures in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, James Lutheran churches in Bavaria, Rothenburg James Lutheran churches converted from Roman Catholicism, Rothenburg James Sculptures by Tilman Riemenschneider