St. Sturmius Church in Leitmar

St. Sturmius was not the first church in the village. As early as 1732, the Elector of Cologne ordered that the construction of a chapel in Leitmar be supported in order to prevent people from converting to another religion.

The first chapel stood on the site of today’s memorial, directly on the old church path to Heddinghausen. It was only a small structure, but it served as the village center for more than a century until it was torn down in 1852.

The chapel’s demise was not accepted without protest. One indication of this is the purchase in 1869 of a new bell “for a chapel yet to be built.”

In 1904, attention turned to the current site; in 1912, the new building lot was purchased; in 1914, the chapel board approved the construction; and in October 1915, the “St. Sturmius” chapel was consecrated.

Due to its location in the new village center and its elevated position, the church became the defining structure of the town.

Finally, two notes on the first 100 years of St. Sturmius Chapel:

• Heddinghausen naturally remained the parish seat, and the pastor also served as chairman of the chapel board.
• The end of World War II marked a major turning point for our parish. The wave of refugees brought many Protestants to Leitmar. The question soon arose as to whether Protestants could also find a place under the roof of St. Sturmius. There was, of course, resistance, but fortunately—or thank God—an early ecumenical spirit prevailed.

(according to Theo B. Schulte-Coerne)