St. Elisabeth Church, Borntosten

Until 1952, the faithful of Borntosten always had to go to the parish church in Heddinghausen. It was an arduous journey in all kinds of weather, which is why the people felt the need to build a church. Against the wishes of Paderborn, the pastor, and their neighbors, they formed a 22-member chapel-building association and began construction of the church. It was agreed that the church should be located at the entrance to the village. After many difficulties, great personal dedication on the part of the villagers, and numerous donations from residents and supporters in the surrounding area, the church was built between March and November (St. Elizabeth’s Day). Once the church was completed, the pastor and the city of Paderborn could no longer maintain their opposition. But as for maintenance—according to Paderborn—the rebellious residents of Borntosten would have to cover the costs themselves. Initially, the plan was to collect 5 DM per month from each parishioner, but later they agreed on 5 DM per household per month. To this day, this money is still collected to maintain the church.