The Marienkirche is a main church (''Hauptkirche'') in

Wolfenbüttel Wolfenbüttel (; nds, Wulfenbüddel) is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, the administrative capital of Wolfenbüttel District. It is best known as the location of the internationally renowned Herzog August Library and for having the largest c ...

, Lower Saxony, Germany. The official name of the

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...

church is ''Hauptkirche Beatae Mariae Virginis'' (Main church of the Blessed Virgin Mary). Short common names are ''Hauptkirche BMV'', or simply ''BMV''. It is regarded as the first major Protestant church. It was commissioned by

Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Henry Julius (german: Heinrich Julius; 15 October 1564 – 30 July 1613), a member of the House of Welf, was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruling Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel from 1589 until his death. He also served as administrator of the ...

. Building began in 1608, directed by ''Baumeister'' Paul Francke. The portals in the north and south are attributed to . :de:Jacob Meyerheine

Burials

The composer

Michael Praetorius Michael Praetorius (probably 28 September 1571 – 15 February 1621) was a German composer, organist, and music theorist. He was one of the most versatile composers of his age, being particularly significant in the development of musical forms ba ...

, the writer

Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer (11 July 1635 – 8 September 1699) was a German jurist, poet, satirist and Protestant hymn writer. He worked as an advocate at the court of Wolfenbüttel. Johann Sebastian Bach used a stanza from his hymn "" to conclude his ...

and the architect Paul Francke are buried in the church. The ''Fürstengruft'' below the choir contains the graves of 29 members of the ducal house of the

Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel The Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (german: Fürstentum Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel) was a subdivision of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, whose history was characterised by numerous divisions and reunifications. It had an area of 3,828 ...

from the beginning of the 17th century to 1767.

Literature

* Hans-Herbert Müller (ed.): ''Die Hauptkirche Beatae Mariae Virginis in Wolfenbüttel''. in: Forschungen der Denkmalpflege in Niedersachsen vol. 4. 1st edition, Verlag CW Niemeyer, Hameln 1987 * Wolfram Kummer: ''Der Altar der Hauptkirche Beatae Mariae Virginis in Wolfenbüttel'', in: (ed

''Restaurierung von Kulturdenkmalen. Beispiele aus der niedersächsischen Denkmalpflege'' (= ''Berichte zur Denkmalpflege'', appendix 2), Niedersächsisches Landesverwaltungsamt – Institut für Denkmalpflege, Hameln: Niemeyer, 1989, , p. 297–307

References

External links

*
Hauptkirche Beatae Mariae Virginis in Wolfenbüttel
flickr.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Marienkirche, Wolfenbuttel Lutheran churches in Lower Saxony, Wolfenbuttel Mary Wolfenbuttel Mary Buildings and structures in Wolfenbüttel