Wedding Wanckel

The church of St Cyriacus is a Catholic parish church in the town of Schmallenberg in the Hochsauerland district. It is one of the oldest preserved churches in the region and an important testimony to Romanesque architecture.

The church was built between 1200 and 1220 and dedicated to St Cyriacus, a martyr from the 4th century. The church consists of a single-nave nave, a transverse rectangular choir and a mighty west tower. The church is built of quarry stone and covered with slate. The façade is divided by arched windows, pilasters and arched friezes. The tower has four storeys and is crowned by a pyramid roof. On the south side of the tower is a Romanesque portal with a tympanum and bulbous arch.

The church has a rich interior, some of which dates from later periods. The baroque high altar from the 18th century depicts the crucifixion of Christ and St Cyriacus, St Laurence and St Stephen. The side altars are dedicated to St Anthony of Padua and St Anne. The pulpit from the 17th century is decorated with carvings and paintings. The 19th century organ with 16 stops is located in a gallery above the entrance. The church contains numerous paintings, sculptures, reliquaries and liturgical objects that bear witness to the history and importance of the church.

St Cyriakus Church is a cultural and spiritual treasure for the Schmallenberg community. It is a place of prayer, devotion and the celebration of the sacraments. It is also a place of encounter, education and art. It is a church that connects past and present and shapes the future.