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The Church of the Holy Cross () is a Lutheran church in the centre of Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony, Germany. A Gothic architecture, Gothic hall church, it is one of three churches in Hanover's Altstadt, old town ()the other two being Marktkirche, Hanover, Market Church and Aegidienkirche, Hanover, Aegidien Church, although the latter is now a war memorial.
During the Reformation the church became Lutheranism, Lutheran. It was then expanded, and renovated in the 19th century. Destroyed by the bombing of Hanover in World War II, bombings of Hanover in World War II, the Church of the Holy Cross was rebuilt in simpler form between 1959 and 1961. Receiving an altar by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Lucas Cranach from the Palace Church () that was not rebuilt after World War II, in 1960 its official name became Palace and Town Church of the Holy Cross of Hanover (). In 1982 the Church of the Holy Cross parish became part of the Market Church parish.
When the citizens of Hanover accepted the Reformation in 1533, the church became Lutheran and the site of the first Lutheran sermon in Hanover. In 1560, it was expanded to adjust to the different needs of a Protestant congregation. In 1594, a pulpit was installed by Claus von Münchhausen, but moved to the church in Lauenau. The court sculptor created a carved hanging pulpit in 1756.
The spire of the steeple was damaged by a storm in 1630, and was replaced in Baroque architecture, Baroque style in 1652. In a renovation in 1822–23, many older artifacts were sold or destroyed, leaving the baptismal font as the only medieval furniture.
In July 1943 during World War II, an Bombing of Hanover in World War II, air raid destroyed the town centre, including the Church of the Holy Cross. Between 1959 and 1961 it was rebuilt in a simplified form by architect Erich Witt. The Palace Church parish using the church from 1960 because their Palace Church was not rebuilt after the war resulted in the name ''Schloss- und Stadtkirche St. Crucis''.
In 1982, the parish was merged with the Aegidien Church parish into the Market Church parish, which is responsible for matters such as building, concerts and expositions. Sunday services in the Church of the Holy Cross are often held by the parish of Protestant students (). The church is a venue for education, guided tours, concerts and other events.
The baptismal font was made around 1410 from bronze, possibly in Hildesheim. The main treasure of the church is an altar which Lucas Cranach the Elder, Lucas Cranach created and signed, probably before 1537. He made it for the in Einbeck, showing a central crucifixion scene, with Alexander of Rome, St. Alexander und Felicitas of Rome, St. Felicitas on the side panels, the patron saints of Einbeck. The altar was owned next by the dukes of Braunschweig who placed it in the new Palace Church in the Leineschloss, Leine Palace from 1666 to 1680. During French occupation, the outer panels were separated, but returned to the Hausmann collection in 1816. They belonged to King George V of Hanover from 1857, and to the state gallery of Lower Saxony from 1925. The central panel and the side panels returned to the Palace Church sooner. After World War II, the altar belonged to the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover, Church of Hanover.
Three chandeliers were formerly in the Aegidien Church that became a war memorial after World War II. Cast in the 17th and 18th century, they had been evacuated before the bombing. The organ was built by in 1965. It has 34 stops on three manuals and pedal.
*
* Ulfrid Müller: ''Die Schloß- und Stadtkirche St. Crucis (Kreuzkirche) in Hannover'' (''Große Baudenkmäler'', issue 373). Munich: Deutscher Kunstverlag 1985.
* Klaus Eberhard Sander: ''Der Cranach-Altar in der Kreuzkirche, seine Geschichte und Eigenart''. In: ''Marktkirche''. Published by Kirchenvorstand der Marktkirchengemeinde Hannover. 1990, (pp. 41–46).
* Heinrich Emmendörffer: ''Die Kreuzkirche in neuem Glanz. Die Renovierung der Kreuzkirche im Sommer 1991''. In: ''Marktkirche''. 1991, (pp. 31–33).
* Helmut Knocke, Hugo Thielen: ''Hannover Kunst- und Kultur-Lexikon, Handbuch und Stadtführer'', 3rd rev. ed. Hannover: Schäfer 1995, (pp. 142–144).
* Gerd Weiß, Marianne Zehnpfennig: ''Kreuzkirche und Kreuzkirchenviertel'', in: ''Denkmaltopographie Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Baudenkmale in Niedersachsen, Stadt Hannover'', part 1, vol. 10.1, published by Hans-Herbert Möller, , Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig/Wiesbaden 1983, , pp. 57–.
Altarpiece of Hannover Kreuzkirche: The Crucifixion of Christ (central panel) / about 1530 – 1539 / Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
lucascranach.org {{Authority control Gothic architecture in Germany Gothic hall churches in Germany Buildings and structures completed in 1333 Lutheran churches in Hanover Lutheran churches converted from Roman Catholicism Rebuilt churches in Germany Buildings and structures in Germany destroyed during World War II
History
In 1284 the Church of the Holy Cross parish separated from the Marktkirche, Hanover, Market Church parish. The church is built in sandstone masonry, and was consecrated in 1333 and dedicated to the Holy Spirit in Christianity, Holy Spirit and Christian cross, Cross (). Presently the church is a Gothic architecture, Gothic hall church with one nave of four Bay (architecture), bays and a rib vault.
When the citizens of Hanover accepted the Reformation in 1533, the church became Lutheran and the site of the first Lutheran sermon in Hanover. In 1560, it was expanded to adjust to the different needs of a Protestant congregation. In 1594, a pulpit was installed by Claus von Münchhausen, but moved to the church in Lauenau. The court sculptor created a carved hanging pulpit in 1756.
The spire of the steeple was damaged by a storm in 1630, and was replaced in Baroque architecture, Baroque style in 1652. In a renovation in 1822–23, many older artifacts were sold or destroyed, leaving the baptismal font as the only medieval furniture.
In July 1943 during World War II, an Bombing of Hanover in World War II, air raid destroyed the town centre, including the Church of the Holy Cross. Between 1959 and 1961 it was rebuilt in a simplified form by architect Erich Witt. The Palace Church parish using the church from 1960 because their Palace Church was not rebuilt after the war resulted in the name ''Schloss- und Stadtkirche St. Crucis''.
In 1982, the parish was merged with the Aegidien Church parish into the Market Church parish, which is responsible for matters such as building, concerts and expositions. Sunday services in the Church of the Holy Cross are often held by the parish of Protestant students (). The church is a venue for education, guided tours, concerts and other events.
Interior
The baptismal font was made around 1410 from bronze, possibly in Hildesheim. The main treasure of the church is an altar which Lucas Cranach the Elder, Lucas Cranach created and signed, probably before 1537. He made it for the in Einbeck, showing a central crucifixion scene, with Alexander of Rome, St. Alexander und Felicitas of Rome, St. Felicitas on the side panels, the patron saints of Einbeck. The altar was owned next by the dukes of Braunschweig who placed it in the new Palace Church in the Leineschloss, Leine Palace from 1666 to 1680. During French occupation, the outer panels were separated, but returned to the Hausmann collection in 1816. They belonged to King George V of Hanover from 1857, and to the state gallery of Lower Saxony from 1925. The central panel and the side panels returned to the Palace Church sooner. After World War II, the altar belonged to the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover, Church of Hanover.
Three chandeliers were formerly in the Aegidien Church that became a war memorial after World War II. Cast in the 17th and 18th century, they had been evacuated before the bombing. The organ was built by in 1965. It has 34 stops on three manuals and pedal.
Bibliography
*
* Ulfrid Müller: ''Die Schloß- und Stadtkirche St. Crucis (Kreuzkirche) in Hannover'' (''Große Baudenkmäler'', issue 373). Munich: Deutscher Kunstverlag 1985.
* Klaus Eberhard Sander: ''Der Cranach-Altar in der Kreuzkirche, seine Geschichte und Eigenart''. In: ''Marktkirche''. Published by Kirchenvorstand der Marktkirchengemeinde Hannover. 1990, (pp. 41–46).
* Heinrich Emmendörffer: ''Die Kreuzkirche in neuem Glanz. Die Renovierung der Kreuzkirche im Sommer 1991''. In: ''Marktkirche''. 1991, (pp. 31–33).
* Helmut Knocke, Hugo Thielen: ''Hannover Kunst- und Kultur-Lexikon, Handbuch und Stadtführer'', 3rd rev. ed. Hannover: Schäfer 1995, (pp. 142–144).
* Gerd Weiß, Marianne Zehnpfennig: ''Kreuzkirche und Kreuzkirchenviertel'', in: ''Denkmaltopographie Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Baudenkmale in Niedersachsen, Stadt Hannover'', part 1, vol. 10.1, published by Hans-Herbert Möller, , Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig/Wiesbaden 1983, , pp. 57–.
References
External links
*Altarpiece of Hannover Kreuzkirche: The Crucifixion of Christ (central panel) / about 1530 – 1539 / Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
lucascranach.org {{Authority control Gothic architecture in Germany Gothic hall churches in Germany Buildings and structures completed in 1333 Lutheran churches in Hanover Lutheran churches converted from Roman Catholicism Rebuilt churches in Germany Buildings and structures in Germany destroyed during World War II