St. Mary's Church, Stralsund

St. Mary's Church (German: Marienkirche) is a large Lutheran church located in Stralsund, northern Germany.[1] Built some time before 1380, it is architecturally Gothic, an outstanding example of the Brick Gothic style prevalent in northern Germany and in the Baltic states. Between 1549 and 1647, it was the tallest building in the world at 151 metres (495 ft) tall, excepting the interval 1569–1573 between the completion and collapse of the tower of St. Pierres Cathedral in Beauvais. As part of the historic centre of Stralsund, the church was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002.[2]

Saint Mary's Church
Record height
Tallest in the world from 1549 to 1647[I]
Preceded byLincoln Cathedral
Surpassed byStrasbourg Cathedral
General information
LocationStralsund, Germany
Coordinates54°18′37″N 13°05′16″E
Completedbefore 1298
Height
Antenna spirecurrently 104 m (341 ft)

The bell tower collapsed in 1382, and was rebuilt by 1478. In 1495, the steeple tower blew down during a severe storm, and was then rebuilt taller. This was subsequently struck by lightning in 1647, and burned down, and was rebuilt as a baroque dome, which, completed in 1708, can be seen today. The tower is currently 104 metres (341 ft) tall.

The main organ built by Friedrich Stellwagen between 1653 and 1659 is one of the famous large baroque organs in Europe.[3]

  • The famous Stellwagen-Organ from 1659
    The famous Stellwagen-Organ from 1659

See also

References
  1. "World Architecture Image". Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  2. "Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  3. "Die Stellwagen-Orgel Stralsund - Startseite". www.stellwagen.de. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Marien in Stralsund, Germany.

Note: Spire of Lincoln Cathedral, versus other possible medieval cathedral spires (like Lincoln's, all since destroyed), is an item of debate amongst experts. Feel free to see List of tallest buildings and structures#History and Lincoln Cathedral for more information.


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