Rarely used: Will the church on Lake Starnberg become a cultural center?

Created: 11/29/2022, 13:00

By: Tobias Gmach

In the center of Pöcking is the old parish church of St. Ulrich.

It is only rarely used for church services.

A reason for the parish to think about the future of the building.

© ANDREA JAKSCH

The Pöckinger church of St. Ulrich could be desecrated and become a cultural center.

Pastor Leander Mikschl says: "We can't afford two churches in town in the medium term." An association should ensure regular events and income.

Pöcking - It sounds paradoxical: The Pöckinger church St. Ulrich could soon no longer be - so that it is preserved and in the hands of people from the place.

It could become a cultural center hosting chamber concerts, lectures and readings.

Pastor Leander Mikschl from the Catholic parish community Pöcking is cautious about this, he speaks of "first considerations", nothing concrete is yet.

When asked by Merkur, however, he already says that there is a plan: the plan to found an association that will take care of the maintenance of the church building.

Who would organize events and thus generate income.

However, the decision as to whether St. Ulrich should be desecrated as a place of worship – profaned in technical jargon – has not yet been made.

The old parish church was probably built in the 14th century, furnished in a neo-baroque style around 1700 and expanded by the chancel and tower and completely renovated in 1983.

It is surrounded by graves in the center of Pöcking, right on the main street.

But it is only used for nostalgic or personal reasons, sometimes for a baptism, sometimes for a wedding - ten times a year, if at all, says Pastor Mikschl.

Church life takes place for the most part 150 meters further, in the parish church of St. Pius.

The three-aisled basilica, modeled on the Romanesque style, has only existed since 1957. Mikschl explains: "We can't afford two churches in the village in the medium term."

They are owned by the independent local church foundation.

Pastor: Every church is 'a public reference to Christianity'

And she also feels that many people are turning away from the Catholic Church - or that supporters and church taxpayers are dying.

Mikschl also reports that donations have fallen by half for the second year in a row.

Ortisei is not enormously expensive, but here and there roof tiles have to be replaced or woodworms have to be fought.

Not to mention the basic electricity fee and rainwater tax.

For the Pöckingen pastor, every church is "a public reference to Christianity".

But he and the parish feel compelled to act.

"If we wait another five years, all we can do is sell it.

It would be a shame if it turned into a bicycle shop, for example.

Now we can still make a decision.” The idea and hope: An association founded by members of the church community, but also by other Pöckingers, could ensure identification.

For a cultural project that locals are happy to support.

And for keeping St. Ulrich in good condition as a historic building that defines the place.

Example in the district: Herrschinger church becomes a cultural space

In the diocese of Augsburg, to which Pöcking also belongs, there have been two so-called partial profanations of church buildings in the past ten years, according to press spokesman Nicolas Schnall.

In one case, the worship room was reduced in size to make room for the diocese's archive.

In the other created a building and art depot.

In Herrsching, the old St. Nicholas Church is to be turned into a festival hall, a cultural space.

In the diocese of Augsburg, it was "the first time that a parish community considered using a church for a new purpose," Pastor Simon Rapp reported to Starnberger Merkur in November 2020. This year, the residents of Herrsching received the final OK for the project.

Asked about the next steps in Pöcking, Pastor Mikschl says: "We will get detailed legal advice, work out a model statute and then publicly advertise the association."

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