Altar from demolished Church becomes wash basin in wellness centre - a living parable for our age
Hopfen am See: Altar becomes arm washing basin for Kneipp Fans
The new arm basin from the former Füssen altar, complete with Kneipp basin, is located directly on Lake Hopfen.
The Kneipp facility at Lake Hopfen was recently completed. In addition to a Kneipp basin, the facility also includes a very special arm basin.
Hopfen am See – The completely renovated Kneipp facility on the Hopfensee promenade near Camping Hopfensee was completed at the start of this year's Kneipp season. The existing wading pool was lined with a so-called "stone carpet."
Kneipp enthusiasts can also refresh themselves in a new arm basin, crafted from the natural stone of the former altar in the Church of the Eight Blesseds in Füssen-West. Füssen Tourism and Marketing, as the client for the modernization project, aims to complete the redesign of the open spaces surrounding the basins next year. "Our heartfelt thanks go to all the companies involved, especially Hermann Briemle Garden and Landscape Construction for leading the planning," said Füssen Tourism Director Stefan Fredlmeier.
Ironically the Kneipp cure was developed by a priest.
Background
The church was built in the mid-1960s to serve the growing population of the Füssen-West district. Its name referred to Jesus' Beatitudes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. The church's large dimensions were also explained by its function as a garrison church for the neighboring barracks. The design was by the architect Oskar Wittek. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 2, 1963, and the foundation stone was laid on November 14, 1964. The church was consecrated on March 26, 1966, by Bishop Josef Stimpfle.
The former rectory, attached to the church, was converted and expanded into a daycare center in 2013/2014. The St. Gabriel Catholic daycare center opened on September 1, 2014.
Due to declining church attendance, the church proved to be oversized by the late 2010s. Of the 600 seats, only 60 to 80 were occupied during Sunday services.Shortly after the celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2017, the decision to demolish it was made; In 2020, the organ was dismantled and sold to the parish of St. Joseph in Katowice.The demolition, initially planned for 2022, was delayed several times, partly due to the coronavirus crisis. On September 22, 2024, Bishop Bertram Meier deconsecrated the church.
Demolition work on the building itself began in January 2025.It was the first time that a parish church was permanently demolished in the Diocese of Augsburg.A church meeting center with a worship space and the new St. Gabriel kindergarten are to be built on the church's site. Some of the pews will be placed in the cemetery's funeral hall. Other items will be on permanent loan to the municipal museum. The stained-glass windows and the wooden floor of the gallery will also be reused. The natural stone from the altar was used to create a basin for the renovated Kneipp facility at the Hopfensee campsite.
Goods are removed from the Church. The Church was more packed than for years for the closing service. See also removal of relics from the altar.
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