St. Martinus
Former parish church of Esch with an 11th-century Romanesque core and a late Gothic expansion.
When the new Catholic church of St. Mariä Namen was built between 1967 and 1969, St. Martinus lost its role as the district's parish church.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Former Roman Catholic parish church
- Location
- Esch district, Chorweiler borough, Cologne
- Architectural style
- Romanesque and Gothic architecture
- Named after
- Martin of Tours
- Protection status
- Listed monument in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Affiliation
- Kreuz-Köln-Nord pastoral area, Cologne deanery, Archdiocese of Cologne
After being reported as structurally unsound in 1517, the Romanesque church was rebuilt in Late Gothic style – its tower still holds a bell cast in 1766 by Franziskus Heintz of Trier.
Ecclesiastical Ties
Archbishop Sigewin of Are granted the tithes of the Esch parish to the chapter of Cologne's St. Andreas collegiate church, a gift confirmed by Archbishop Hermann III of Hochstaden in 1091. As a parish church belonging to St. Andreas, it is mentioned around 1300 in the liber valoris. The right of collation remained with St. Andreas until secularization.
Building History
The present church rests on a Romanesque structure with two naves. The original Romanesque hall church dates to the 11th century; around 1200 it was raised in height and given an additional side aisle, while the late Romanesque tower was added in the 13th century. From this earlier building, the tower, choir, and large portions of the north aisle survive.
Late Gothic Rebuilding
In 1517, records of the Neuss deanery noted that the building was in disrepair. A late Gothic remodeling followed, adding a south aisle and giving the interior a hall-church vaulting. Along the main axis, the choir later received an attached sacristy.
Bells
Three bells hang in the tower. Franziskus Heintz of Trier cast the largest in 1766, while Hans Hüesker made the other two in 1954/55 at the Petit & Gebr. Edelbrock foundry in Gescher. The ringing pattern is known as the "Te Deum."
Timeline
- 11. JahrhundertRomanesque hall church originally built
- 1091Archbishop Hermann III confirms tithe donation to St. Andreas
- um 1200Church raised and extended with a side aisle
- 13. JahrhundertLate Romanesque tower added
- um 1300Parish church mentioned in the liber valoris
- 1517Disrepair reported, late Gothic rebuilding and extension begun
- 1766Largest bell cast by Franziskus Heintz
- 1954/55Two further bells cast by Hans Hüesker
Gallery
Map
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-09-04
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