Anniversary of the Francis Chapel: 25 years of ecumenical history in Tiefenlauter!

Anniversary of the Francis Chapel: 25 years of ecumenical history in Tiefenlauter!

The small but beautiful St. Francis Chapel in Tiefenlauter is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. To mark the anniversary, numerous visitors and representatives from local communities came together to celebrate the special event. Pastor Stefan Reichenbacher, the honorary chairman of the IGL Dieter Kestler, Mayor Karl Kolb and Pastor Wunibald Forster were at the center of the celebrations. The chapel is not only a sight, but also a symbolic symbol of ecumenical coexistence in Germany - the first of its kind to combine Catholic and Protestant elements np-coburg.de reported.

The St. Francis Chapel stands in a picturesque location where the Coburg-Eisenach railway line once ran. At the inauguration on May 20, 2000, there was great joy when the first believers took possession of the chapel. The rooms were built with a lot of love and dedication by various craft businesses from the region. The chapel is well signposted for directions: turn from the Coburg-Rottenbach street into Bahnhofstraße and then follow Rösersweg until just before the top, where there is a small parking space for five cars. From here, the chapel can be easily reached at ground level, as unterlauter-evangelisch.de describes.

Ecumenical community

What makes the Francis Chapel special is its ecumenical character. It is used jointly by the Catholic parish of St. Marien in Coburg and the Protestant parish of Unterlauter. In this way, traditions from both faiths come together harmoniously, which is particularly important today. The chapel invites hikers and interested passersby to take a short break - be it for a devotion or a prayer.

In Tiefenlauter, the nativity play has a long tradition, which takes place outdoors next to the chapel on the former train platform area every year on Christmas Eve. The image of a vibrant community is omnipresent here. In addition, the St. Francis Chapel is recognized as part of the “Lautertal Listening Trail,” which further boosts its popularity.

Outlook and meaning

The community already has plans for future developments around the chapel. The goal is to enliven this unique place even more and to further promote ecumenical cooperation. At a time when church activities and communities are often faced with decline, the St. Francis Chapel represents a positive exception. It is valued not only by the members of the two congregations, but also by many visitors who recognize the importance of communal worship and the outward expression of faith.

In addition, as dbk.de shows, the Ecumenical Church Atlas represents a valuable resource for gaining insights into the diversity of church life in Germany. Such data helps to better understand communities and identify challenges that can be addressed in the future.