Parish Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

The Parish Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is a historic and impressive Roman Catholic church in the town of Bruck a der Mur, in the Austrian state of Styria. The church, which is also the provost and deanery of the diocese of Graz-Seckau, has a rich and complex history that spans over seven centuries. The church features a blend of architectural styles, from Romanesque to Gothic to Baroque, and houses some remarkable artworks and sculptures. The church is a prominent landmark and a cultural treasure of Bruck a der Mur, and attracts many visitors and pilgrims who admire its beauty and significance.

History

The church was built as part of the city’s restructuring in 1272, following a devastating fire that destroyed most of the town. The church was originally dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of merchants and sailors, reflecting the town’s importance as a trading center on the Mur river. The church was consecrated in 1336 by Archbishop Friedrich von Leibnitz, and was elevated to parish status in 1498 by Pope Alexander VI. The church was then rededicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

The parish priest of Bruck was also the archdeacon, or the episcopal vicar, of the Archbishop of Salzburg for the Mur and Mürz valley, which was known as the “Upper Mark”. This gave the parish priest a high rank and authority in the region, and also made the church a target of conflicts and wars. The church suffered several damages and plunderings during the Turkish invasions, the Peasant Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars. The parish priest of Bruck was granted the title of provost, or the head of a chapter of canons, by Emperor Joseph II in 1795, as part of his diocesan regulation. The title of provost is still held by the city pastor of Bruck today.

Architecture

The church is located on the northern outskirts of the ancient town, on a raised hill that overlooks the Mur river. The church consists of a Gothic choir and a choir tower, as well as a previous Romanesque nave that was modified during a late Gothic conversion. The church has a length of 54 meters, a width of 22 meters, and a height of 24 meters. The choir tower has a height of 72 meters, and is the tallest structure in the town.

The nave, which dates back to the 13th century, is made of brickwork and has a basilica-like plan. It is extended to the north as a side aisle, with a chapel expansion, both under a similar gabled roof. The nave was reinforced to the south and the west with buttresses in the second half of the 15th century, to support the weight of the choir and the tower. A late Gothic polygonal stair tower, with a shoulder arched gateway and a grooved cornice, can be found in the southwest corner. The nave acquired rectangular windows with bars during the Baroque era, replacing the original pointed windows. On the north side, two pointed arches and rectangular windows can be seen on the late Gothic stone walls. An open porch, with a late Gothic ribbed ceiling, stands in front of the simple western facade.

The choir, which was built in the first quarter of the 14th century, is a lofty and retracting structure that includes triple tiered buttresses with water hammer. The choir has a polygonal end with five sides, and has a ribbed vault with a star pattern. The tracery on the chancel windows has been largely bricked up, except for the bricked-up east-facing window, which has three panels of tracery. The choir also has a rood screen, which separates it from the nave, and a choir loft, which houses the organ.

The choir tower, which was built in the second quarter of the 14th century, is a massive stone masonry structure that stands transversely rectangular over the first choir bay. The tower has four stories, separated by cornices, and has twin pointed windows on the flanks. The belfry, which is framed by a cornice, has linked acoustic windows. The tower roof, which has an octagonal lantern and a pointed helmet, was completed in 1890 following a design by Robert Mikovics, a local architect. The ground floor of the tower was accessed to the south by an early Gothic pointed arch entrance, with a bricked-up stone wall with a pear stick profile, dating from the early 14th century.

The sacristy, which is located north of the choir and the choir tower, is a two-story structure that dates from the second half of the 17th century. The sacristy has an octagonal lantern and a pointed helmet, and has a Baroque portal with a segmental pediment and a coat of arms.

Interior

The interior of the church is decorated with various artworks and sculptures, mostly from the Baroque period. The choir end has a classical high altar, with an altarpiece of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary by Matthias Schiffer, a local painter, from 1807. The altarpiece depicts the scene of the birth of Mary, with her parents Joachim and Anne, and angels. The lateral figures are Saints John the Baptist and Joseph, the patron saints of the church. The tabernacle, which dates from the early 19th century, has a gilded door with a relief of the Lamb of God.

The two side altars, which date from the third quarter of the 18th century, have altarpieces by Philipp Carl Laubmann, another local painter. The left side altar has an altarpiece of Maria Immaculata, or the Immaculate Conception of Mary, from 1731. The altarpiece shows Mary standing on a crescent moon, surrounded by angels and stars. The lateral sculptures are Saints Agnes and Apollonia, two virgin martyrs. The right side altar has an altarpiece of the Last Supper, from 1751. The altarpiece depicts Jesus and his disciples at the table, with Judas holding the bag of silver. The lateral sculptures are Saints Peter and Paul, the apostles of Jesus.

The nave has several other artworks and sculptures, such as a crucifix from the 15th century, a statue of Saint Nicholas from the 18th century, a painting of the Assumption of Mary from the 19th century, and a modern mosaic of the Holy Family from 1962. The nave also has 14 stations of the cross, which depict the passion and death of Jesus, from the 19th century. The nave also has a baptismal font, which dates from the 16th century, and has a relief of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.

The church also has a treasury, which contains various relics and liturgical objects, such as a Gothic monstrance from the 15th century, a Baroque chalice from the 17th century, a reliquary of Saint Florian from the 18th century, and a processional cross from the 19th century.

Bruck a der Mur, Austria