The Romanesque church of St. Vitus with its old trees and walled churchyard is located in a slightly elevated churchyard. The construction of the church and the creation of a parish date back to the monks of Corvey.
The current construction of the old church dates back to the middle of the 13th century, built with hewn and grouted quarry stones from local quarries. As usual, this church probably also had a plaster skin in the past, the remains of which can still be seen. The ground plan is unique: it has the shape of a Greek cross, i.e. four cross arms of equal size and height. This shape is unique in Westfalen; there are said to be only two churches of this type. The squat tower rises above the western one, the choir is located in the eastern base square. The nave therefore consists only of the crossing and the tower hall, the transept is formed by the southern and northern arms of the cross. Dimensions from west to east (inside) 19.02 m, from north to south (inside) 15.40 m. The cross arms are 5.58 m and 5.77 m long (inside). The different dimensions inside can also be explained by the thickness of the plaster layer in the interior. Externally, the building is almost unadorned. The eastern arm of the cross has one window on each side, the northern one to the north and east, the southern one to the east and south, the western one to the north and south, as well as a small one above the old portal to the west. There were alterations in the 16th century. In 1860, the windows were also lengthened; they are round-arched. The solstice heights were restored to their original form during the restoration. Various small, partly slit-shaped ventilation openings. Cross-shaped ventilation openings under the gables. The square tower, which rises above the western base square, has sound holes at the height of the belfry as well as smaller ventilation and light openings. The tower shaft only reaches slightly above the roof height of the cross arms. The current one has a Gothic form.
Originally, the church had three entrances, to the north, west and south. The northern portal is now bricked up. It was popularly known as the donkey gate. The western tower entrance is now closed. Entry to the church is currently only possible through the southern portal. A weathered man's head can be seen to the west of the portal on a bulge in the door jamb of the southern entrance. If you enter the centralizing vaulted building through the southern entrance, one step leads to the threshold and two steps into the interior. The church floor is lower than the surrounding area. Neither pillars nor columns obstruct the view, which can take in everything from the crossing. Domed ridge vaults rise above angular walls and pointed arched belfries. The west walls of the two cross arms, which are directly adjacent to the north and south, together with the good pressure dissipation of the accentuated pointed arch, allowed the full opening to the crossing without danger. The choir is one step higher and has a natural stone floor. The date 1666 can be seen on the front of the step. The stone floor in the crossing and the other arms of the cross was added. Remains of the Romanesque plaster were discovered in the window niches. Right-angled niches in the east wall of both arms of the cross. In the south, east wall, brick altar block with sepulchre and mensa. The altar slab with consecration crosses was also discovered. There is also a niche for liturgical implements. To the left of the west portal, an old ashlar holy water niche was found in the masonry. On the west side of the north arm, a shallow niche of a former Holy Sepulchre. Here, at head height, there is also a narrow door leading to the staircase that goes inside the wall into the tower. The tower also served as a refuge. To secure the entrances, rectangular openings were pushed into the beams at all entrances in both walls (fortified church).
After the end of the war, the window in the choir (Christ the King) and the small window in the tower hall (Corvey coat of arms) were created. All the other windows were reglazed in a simple form, and the window frames were replaced. In 1649, a St. Catherine's altar was consecrated by Auxiliary Bishop Frick. In 1729 there is talk of three altars: High altar in honor of St. Vitus, side altars of St. Nicholas and St. Anne. In 1717, the confessional stood in the choir; today, the Baroque confessional is located in the north wing. A beautiful baroque altar was replaced by a neo-Gothic one at the turn of the century, in keeping with contemporary taste. Now there is a simple altar table (mensa) in the choir. In front of it is a baroque choir screen (baluster, wood). In the crossing hangs a Madonna (17th century, wood, restored version), a so-called double Madonna. In the north arm (north wall), next to the confessional, an epitaph (stone, 18th century) with a coat of arms that cannot be interpreted with certainty. It is the gravestone of a priest. The stone is badly worn, so it must have been in the ground earlier. It was common at the time for priests to be buried in the church. The baroque seating (renovated) dates from 1691, as can be read on one cheek.
The Stations of the Cross, probably from the beginning of the 19th century, were transferred to the new church. The baptismal font was also transferred to the new building: square on a central stele with 4 corner columns on a single-stepped pedestal (marble). Baptismal font sides with oval medallions containing reliefs of the 4 evangelists with their attributes. The date 1659 on one side of the font and at the base. Wooden lid from the end of the 19th century. Round lid with indicated rectangular shingles and attached lantern. This form of baptismal font is unique in Westfalen.
A so-called cylinder monstrance (silver, gilded, engraved, granulated, sawn, cast and punched) stands out among the liturgical objects. It was probably donated by Alhard von Hörde the Elder of Störmede. It also shows a Lippe rose and a five-spoke wheel. The inscriptions cannot be interpreted with certainty. A washbasin (bronze, 16th century), now in the pastorate, has two spouts with suggested animal heads. The handle is held by two female heads on the upper rim. The vessel is 32 cm long and 33 cm high.
Source: Excerpts from the report by Hermann Hinteler.