- Free admission
- By request / Open for events
St. Othmar Church in Dinker
Church | Historic Building
The local parish was established in the 10th/11th century. It included nine noble estates, though only two were located within the area of what is now the Dinker district. It is unclear whether the church stands on the site of the former Clötinghof moated castle or to the north of it. The castle was destroyed, though parts of the moats still remain. A former granary still stands on an island in one of these moats.
Address
St. Othmar Church in Dinker
Kirchplatz
59514 Welver
Properties:
Until 1831, the cemetery was located north of the church, on what is now the church square.
The first church on this site was completed in 1185. The people of Dinker chose Saint Othmar of St. Gallen as their patron saint. This monk was the first abbot of that monastery in Switzerland. A knight from Dinker brought back relics of the saint from St. Gallen on his return from a crusade.
The oldest part of the present-day church is the west wall, which is also a remnant of the old tower dating from 1185.
Next comes the choir, dating from 1514, built in the Gothic style with a ribbed vault.
The three-bay nave was built between 1744 and 1747.
Although this was already the Baroque era, it was nevertheless built in the Gothic style—though without a ribbed vault, but rather with a simpler groined vault. In the western section, a wooden gallery extends across nearly two bays; it rises toward the west and is supported by eight round wooden columns.
The dilapidated tower was demolished in 1901 and rebuilt the following year. It is built in a simple, square design using brick and reaches a height of 40 meters at its peak, where the weathercock is located. The floor plan of the church is that of a single-nave hall church with a 5/8-shaped apse. The choir consists of two bays. During the church’s restoration in 2015–2016, the formerly light blue paint on the ribbed vaults in the choir was exposed and renewed.
Source: Niederbörde Parish