St. Joseph's Chapel

St. Joseph's Chapel (small church) was consecrated on December 6, 1710. It stands on the site of the former infirmary. From the 13th century onwards, infirmaries were built in many towns where lepers had to live (due to the risk of infection).
The first mention of an infirmary in Niedermarsberg dates back to 1348. In the boundary map of 1662, it is marked as lying far outside the gates and beyond the Diemel. The name "Seuchenkamp" was still in use in 1884.
In 1807, the churchwarden Kloke writes of a procession to this chapel and of masses being said there every Friday during Lent. From 1807, the cemetery at Magnus Church was abandoned and moved to the area around St. Joseph's Chapel. However, due to its flood-prone location, it was closed again in 1820 and moved to the Bilstein. After that, the chapel seems to have fallen into oblivion. In 1829, it is described as dilapidated. In 1838, Theodor Caspari came to Marsberg as pastor. Shortly after taking up his post, this extraordinarily energetic pastor began to campaign for the renovation of St. Joseph's Chapel. He persistently negotiated with the town about who should bear the costs. In the end, he was able to prove that the obligation to build the chapel lay with the town. In 1842/43, the chapel was repaired at the city's expense. After its renovation, the chapel appears to have been used for regular church services until around 1900. The building has been on the town's list of monuments since 1987 and is therefore under special protection.
Traditionally, a Eucharistic celebration is held here on March 19, the chapel's patronal feast day.