Only the shell of the Church remains. A symbol for our times.

 

An unusual view in Ruppertshain: St. Matthew's Church has been gutted, and the children's day care centre is to move in here.

Day care centre move into the former place of worship is planned for the second half of 2024

It is a sight that many local citizens still have to get used to: Only the outer shell of St. Matthew's Church, which was built 56 years ago, still stands. The pews, figures, candles and works of art have disappeared. The church has become a large construction site. The neighbouring kindergarten "Sancta Maria", which has long since fallen into disrepair and is in need of renovation, is to move in here with 75 children in three groups instead of the current 56. The church was already deconsecrated last September. Similar projects of a church converted into a day-care centre already exist in Germany, but in the diocese of Limburg this is an absolute rarity. In Ruppertshain, however, a much smaller church is to be built in the rear section.

"The work began in the winter of 2022. So far, the building has been gutted and renovations have been carried out. At the moment, the structural work is in progress," the diocese now says in response to an enquiry about the project. The installation of the new interior walls and ceilings as visible wooden structures will follow.

The day-care centre in the neighbourhood will continue to operate as before, "as the grounds of the day-care centre and the day-care centre itself are virtually unaffected by the construction work". The diocese: "On the part of the construction management, efforts are being made not to disturb the day-care centre operations and to keep the restrictions as low as possible." Completion is planned for the third or fourth quarter of 2024. That is one year later than the plans said two years ago. "Here, the construction progress is constantly monitored, as construction measures in existing buildings may have to be readjusted," the diocese informs. This also applies to the costs, which are "constantly reviewed" "because the current situation in the construction industry is very heterogeneous". Ruppertshain is affected by this: "In this project, too, there have already been cost adjustments due to the progress of construction and the economic situation.

Limburg does not report exact figures, but increases can be assumed. It used to be just under four million, and at the time of the deconsecration it was reported to be as high as six million. "At the moment, tenders are being processed, and we are still waiting for the audited results. Particularly in view of the current increases in construction prices, these results will then have to be evaluated," it says.

After the move, it is planned to demolish the old kindergarten and "put the property to a new use", the diocese announces. No decision has yet been made on what will happen to the site. The association of  "Stimme für Ruppertshain" (Voice for Ruppertshain, SfR) has brought up the idea of designing a village square, and the town has already earmarked funds for this in the budget. According to chairman Thomas Zellhofer, SfR is still "fully behind it". The citizens' association can imagine important infrastructure for the village here, for which it sees no other place. After the demise of the ATM on Robert-Koch-Strasse, something like this could perhaps be considered on the village square, as could a Regiomat for selected groceries, according to Zellhofer. In any case, there should be seating on a surface that is sealed as little as possible. Another idea is to have a small fountain there to remind people of the former Bornstraße. The chairman and city councillor cannot imagine a building development there under any circumstances - because that would "constrict" the church. Not a good idea for him and for many people from Ruppertshain who are still attached to their church.

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