Gosau Evangelical Parish Church

The Gosau Evangelical Parish Church is a Protestant church located in Gosau, a village in the Salzkammergut region of Austria. The church was built between 1860 and 1869 in the neo-Gothic style, following the design of architect Wehrenfennig.

The History of the Church

The Gosau Evangelical Parish Church dates back to the 19th century, when the Protestant community in Gosau faced religious persecution and discrimination from the Catholic authorities. The Protestants were not allowed to build churches with towers, bells, or any signs of their faith. They had to worship in secret, often in barns or private homes.

In 1784, the Protestants of Gosau were granted some tolerance and allowed to build a prayer house, which was dedicated on the Sunday after Trinity. However, the prayer house was still subject to strict regulations and had to be inconspicuous and plain. It had no tower, bells, or religious ornamentation.

The situation improved in the 19th century, when the Austrian Empire adopted a more liberal constitution that granted religious freedom to all citizens. The Protestants of Gosau seized the opportunity to build a new church that would reflect their identity and beliefs. They hired architect Hermann Wehrenfennig, who had designed other Protestant churches in the region, such as Gmunden and Vöcklabruck. The new church was built between 1860 and 1869, using the stones from the demolished prayer house and local quarries. The church was also allowed to have a tower, bells, and a cross. The church was reconsecrated in September 1869, marking a new era for the Protestant community in Gosau.

The Architecture and Art of the Church

The Gosau Evangelical Parish Church is a remarkable example of neo-Gothic architecture, a style that revived the medieval Gothic elements such as pointed arches, vaulted ceilings, and stained glass windows. The church has a rectangular nave with a polygonal choir and a tower at the southern corner. The tower has a pointed spire and four pinnacles. The facade of the church is decorated with buttresses, lancet windows, and a rose window. The main portal has a pointed arch and a tympanum with a relief of Christ and the four evangelists.

The interior of the church is equally impressive, featuring elaborate carvings by the local teacher Hage and his students, who also attended the wood school in Hallstatt. The wooden carvings include the pulpit, the choir stalls, the organ case, and the altars. The main altar, also known as the Trinity altar, is carved with the motif “I am the vine, you are the branches,” as well as the figures of the apostles Peter and Paul. The side altars are dedicated to Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon, the leaders of the Reformation. The church also has a Dachstein marble baptismal font, donated by the Gosau whetstone hewers, and a Steinmayer organ from 1902. The church’s original bronze bells were melted down for weapons production during World War I, and later replaced by steel ones.

The Role of the Church Today

The Gosau Evangelical Parish Church is part of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria, which traces its roots to the Reformation in the 16th century. The church serves the Protestant community in Gosau, which comprises about 40% of the population. The church offers regular worship services, as well as concerts, exhibitions, and other events. The church is open to visitors and tourists, who can admire its architecture and history. The church is also a popular venue for weddings and baptisms.

Gosau, Austria