St.-Wendelin-Kapelle Linach
The St Wendelin Chapel stands in the middle of the Linach Valley
Beschreibung
The chapel was built in 1608 as a donation from the then owner of the Klausenhof and Hinterbauernhof farms, Wendelin Klaus. The following story is told: During a difficult time of war, the Klausen farmer's only son, Wendelin, was taken along with two horses by passing war hordes. The father did not want his son to go with them, but all the pleading did not help. However, the soldiers promised to only take his son a short distance. But weeks, months and years passed and the son never returned. The elderly parents were very sad and counted their son, their only son, among the dead.
After many years, a man of war suddenly rode up to the Klausenhof with two magnificent horses: it was the son they had thought lost. One horse was laden with a heavy sack of thalers, which Wendelin had acquired through bartering during the long war. There was great joy at the Klausenhof. As thanks for his happy return home, this son Wendelin donated a chapel in honour of his holy patron saint. A silver bell is also said to have been cast from some of the money he brought home.
Wendelin Klaus is said to have been the most respected citizen in the Linachtal valley. After the chapel was built, the bells are said to have rung for the first time when Wendelin and his young wife returned from their wedding in the newly established parish of Schönenbach. 50 years later, the chapel bells are said to have rung him to his grave.
The "Klausenhof" was later divided up, with one owner being called the "Vordere Bauer" and the other the "Hintere Bauer". This is probably where the name "Hinterbauernhof", which is registered as "Heineshof", comes from. The "Vordere Hof" (the "Adler" inn burnt down) probably only received its current name "Wirtshof" when an inn was established, which is said to have been in the early 1700s.
There was a silver bell on the chapel until the early 1800s. During the wars of liberation around 1811/12, it was stolen by the French one winter. The following spring, the "yoke" and the "swing" of the silver bell were found in the "Wirtsschäftle", above today's cemetery.
This little silver bell was also known as the "weather bell". When a heavy storm came over the valley, the successor of the chapel founder, who was always also the sacristan, would ring the little bell and the storm would usually pass without damage. When the little bell was stolen, the old people are said to have lamented and regretted that the little weather bell was no longer there when a heavy storm came down on the valley. Later, the government is said to have banned the ringing of the weather bell. However, the silver bell did not hang alone in the tower of the chapel, but there were two other bells there, which were melted down in 1853 and dated from the time when the chapel was built.
The first consecration of the bells must have taken place when the chapel was built. This was followed by bell consecrations in 1853, after the First World War on 22 May 1921 and after the Second World War on 29 October 1950.
Around 1850, a service was only held once a year in St Wendelin's Chapel, during the "week of the cross", when the people of Schönenbach came to Linach in procession. Services are now held once a month on Sundays. All church events are celebrated in the branch chapel if desired.
Kontakt
Adresse
St.-Wendelin-Kapelle Linach
78120 Furtwangen im Schwarzwald