Überwasserkirche

The Überwasserkirche, also known as the Church of Our Lady, is one of the oldest churches in Münster. After its early construction around the ninth century, the church became a foundation with a convent for noble ladies. Another important event of the church was the takeover by the "Anabaptists", who tore down the spire (excavated again in 1898, it found a new home in the National Museum). When the restored Überwasserstift was abolished in 1773, the seminary was founded from the monastery's assets. This gave rise to the University of Münster, whose seal still shows the Mother of God, the "dear Lady of Überwasser". Today, the Überwasserkirche is used for exhibitions and concerts in addition to church services. If you visit the cathedral or the weekly market in Münster, you should definitely take a look at this beautiful church! Information on the historyAccording to excavations, the Church of Our Lady was built in the late ninth century, in the form of a small church. On December 29, 1040, it was consecrated with the title of the Nativity of Mary – ad Beatam Mariam Virginem sub Titulo Nativitatis. King Henry III was present, as well as numerous imperial princes and twelve bishops. As a result, the church fell victim to a fire in 1071. The exact date of the new building has not yet been documented.  When Lothar von Süpplingenburg conquered Münster in 1121, the church was also badly affected. The church in its present form was built from 1340 until the 15th century. Until the conquest on 25 June 1535, the reign of terror of the "Anabaptists" increased. The spire of the Überwasserkirche was thrown down, and guns were placed on the resulting platform. The surviving, extremely valuable Gothic stone figures of Mary and the Apostles were torn from the west portal and stamped into the city walls for reinforcement (excavated again in 1898, they found a new home in the State Museum). When the long-restored Überwasserstift was abolished in 1773 with papal approval, only five ladies lived in it. Income and considerable real estate of the monastery were used to endow the seminary and the newly founded university. Since 1904, several new parishes have been separated from Liebfrauen (including the Holy Cross in 1905, the Children's House in 1908, the Gievenbeck in 1936, the Trinity in 1939, and the St. Theresia in 1952), some of which have since been reunited. At the time of the Second World War, the then Bishop of Münster, Clemens August Graf von Galen, held one of his famous sermons against National Socialism in the Überwasserkirche. The church was badly hit by air raids at that time, but reconstruction was possible. In 1968, the interior of the church was restored; since 1972 the church has had an organ again. Between 1976 and 1983, the tower was restored from the outside. From 2014 to 2018, the Überwasserkirche was renovated again from the ground up. Information about the tourThe Überwasserkirche can be visited from the inside during the specified opening hours or as part of an event or exhibition. An exterior tour of the Gothic hall church is possible at any time.