Katholische Kirche Baden – St. Christoph

The parish church of Baden-St. Christoph (Katholische Kirche Baden – St. Christoph) is a Roman Catholic Church located in the Weikersdorf district of Baden, near Vienna, in Lower Austria. It is part of the Deanery of Baden within the Archdiocese of Vienna. The church was built between 1955 and 1957, and is notable for its architectural and artistic features.

History of the Church

The parish of Baden-St. Christoph has its roots in the Weikersdorf Church Building Association, which was established in 1889 by the residents of the district. The association aimed to build a church for the growing population of Weikersdorf, which was then a part of the parish of St. Helena.

The association acquired a plot of land in 1892, and began to collect donations for the construction of the church. However, due to various difficulties, such as the lack of funds, the outbreak of World War I, and the economic crisis, the project was delayed for several decades.

In 1954, the association finally obtained the permission from the Archdiocese of Vienna to build a new church. The architect Hans Petermair was commissioned to design the church, which would serve as the second parish church in the area. The foundation stone was laid on May 1, 1955, and the construction was completed in 1957. On October 6, 1957, the church was consecrated by Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, and the parish rights were transferred from St. Helena to St. Christoph.

The church underwent an interior restoration in 1973, and the weekday chapel was redesigned in 1978. In 1997, the parish celebrated its 40th anniversary with the installation of a new organ.

Architecture and Art of the Church

The church of Baden-St. Christoph is a remarkable example of modern church architecture. It features a grand, elongated octagonal nave, along with a northern vestibule and a southern chancel. The roof of the church is gabled and hipped, with varying ridge heights. The exterior walls are made of exposed concrete, while the interior walls are plastered and painted in white.

The church is adorned with various artworks, mostly created by local artists in 1957. The most prominent of these is the five-axis arcade in the north hall, which was sculpted by Franz Barwig the Younger. The arcade consists of round columns with sculpted cube capitals or consoles, featuring symbolic animal figures, such as a lion, a lamb, a dove, a fish, and a snake. The arcade leads to the north-western tower, which has round-arched windows and an onion dome. The tower is connected to the north hall through a narrow transition bay, which has a relief of the Last Supper by Franz Xaver Ölzant.

The chapel is located on the northeast side of the building, just south of the vestibule. It has a half-hipped roof and a stained glass window depicting the Holy Spirit. The pediment of the vestibule has a sgraffito of St. Christophorus, the patron saint of the church, carrying the Christ child across a river. The sgraffito was created by the painter Sepp Zöchling.

The porch has three portals, each with a relief by Franz Xaver Ölzant. The central portal shows Christ Pantocrator, the ruler of the universe, with two angels on either side. The left portal shows the Annunciation, the announcement of the birth of Jesus to Mary by the angel Gabriel. The right portal shows the Nativity, the birth of Jesus in a stable.

The interior of the church is simple and spacious, with a wooden ceiling and a marble floor. The chancel has a large crucifix by Franz Barwig the Younger, and a tabernacle by Franz Xaver Ölzant. The nave has a wooden pulpit by Franz Barwig the Younger, and a baptismal font by Franz Xaver Ölzant. The church also has several paintings, such as the Stations of the Cross by Sepp Zöchling, and the portraits of the apostles by Franz Barwig the Younger.

The organ of the church is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and sound. It was built by the Rieger Orgelbau company in 1997, and replaced the previous organ from 1905, which was in a poor condition. The new organ has 1319 pipes and weighs approximately 3900 kg. It has two manuals, a pedal, and 21 registers. The registers have a range from C to g3 for the upper manual and C to f1 for the lower manual. The organ is used for liturgical and musical purposes, and enhances the acoustics of the church.

Baden bei Wien, Austria