Reformierte Kirche Greifensee (native German name, literally: Greifensee Reformed Church or commonly Gallus-Kapelle ''Im Städtli''), is a church and a listed heritage building in the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

of Greifensee,

Canton of Zürich The canton of Zurich is an administrative unit (Swiss canton, canton) of Switzerland, situated in the northeastern part of the country. With a population of (as of ), it is the most populous canton of Switzerland. Zurich is the ''de facto'' Capi ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

Architecture

The triangular building is considered to be the oldest intact

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, a Germanic people **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Gothic alphabet, an alphabet used to write the Gothic language ** Gothic ( ...

monument of the medieval town of Greifensee. Originally, it was integrated into the eastern corner of the

city walls A defensive wall is a fortification usually used to protect a city, town or other settlement from potential aggressors. The walls can range from simple palisades or earthworks to extensive military fortifications such as curtain walls with to ...

as a ''Wehrkirche'', a

fortified church A fortified church is a church that is built to serve a defensive role in times of war. Such church (building), churches were specially designed to incorporate military features, such as thick walls, battlements, and embrasures. Others, such as t ...

, repeating in its ground floor the plan of the small town. The Gothic building got its unusual floor plan due to the inclusion in the town walls of Greifensee. The facade is dominated by a clock tower with pinnacles. The interior has a single central pillar, which unfolds to a stellar vault with magnificent keystones. The wooden gallery dates back to 1638, the baptismal font is from 1603, and the pulpit in rococo style dates from 1780. On the inner walls Bible verses are painted. Greifensee (ZH) - Gallus-Kapelle IMG 6563 ShiftN.jpg, ''Gallus-Kapelle'' and the town hall of Greifensee Greifensee - Reformierte Kirche (Gallus-Kapelle), Im Städtli 2011-09-03 15-45-08.jpg, View from outside of the town wall Greifensee ZH - Gallus-Kapelle IMG 2432.jpg, Pulpit inside the church Greifensee - Reformierte Kirche (Gallus-Kapelle), Im Städtli 2011-09-03 16-04-48.jpg, Ridge tower CH Greifensee ZH, Reformierte Kirche 003.jpg, Peripheral keystones at the ceiling

History

Nobleman ''Hermann IV'' (the younger ''Marschal'') ''von Landenberg'' donated, for his salvation and on his wife ''Elisabeth von Schellenberg'' favour, the fortified chapel around 1330–1340. The year book (''Jahrzeitbuch'') of the

Uster church Reformierte Kirche Uster (native German name, literally: Uster Reformed Church) is an Evangelical Reformed church in the Swiss Municipalities of the canton of Zürich, municipality of Uster in the Canton of Zürich that was built in 1824. The pred ...

lists donations by the Landenberg family in favor of the Uster church, as well as the foundation of the chapel in Greifensee and the foundation of the Greifensee castle chapel around 1350. The castle chapel is dedicated to St Catherine, and also was given by Hermann IV. For centuries, the tiny Gallus chapel has been the

Parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

of the medieval town of Greifensee. The church is associated to the Reformed Church of the canton of Zürich and also is popular for weddings.

Cultural Heritage

The small building is listed as ''Reformierte Kirche, Im Städtli'' in the

Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance #REDIRECT Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance {{R from other capitalisation ...

as a ''Class A'' object of national importance.

References

External links

* {{coord, 47.36489, N, 8.67691, E, region:CH-ZH_type:landmark, format=dms, display=title Churches in the canton of Zürich Church, Greifensee Reformed Chapels in Switzerland Fortified church buildings in Switzerland Reformed church buildings in Switzerland 14th-century churches in Switzerland 14th-century establishments in Switzerland Cultural property of national significance in the canton of Zurich Gothic architecture in Switzerland