Plettenberg - Christuskirche

The construction of the late-romanesque hall-church started around 1230. It was dedicated to "St. Lambertus", what is a connection the "Engelbert III von der Mark", a regional noble, who was bishop in Liege, where martyr St. Lambert (aka "Lambert of Maastricht" had been a bishop as well. Engelbert, who later was bishop in Cologne, had a great influence in the area. After the Reformation, the parish converted to Protestantism, but the church was still "St. Lambertus" for a long time. Later, in very sober times, the name was changed to "Evangelische Hauptkirche" (= "Protestant Main Church"). In 1953 a new name was introduced - and since then this is the "Christuskirche".

The late Romanesque southern portal is a masterpiece with strong connections to the older portals found in the region.

Here is the tympanum. The crucification in the centre. Mary left, St. John, holding the bible, right. Compared to other tympana just seen (Affeln, Balve), the cross is quite large. The arms are somehow curved, creating a kind of three-dimensionality. Christ seems concentrated (eyes shut) his arms spread to embrace the onlookers. To the left is the nativity scene. The body of Mary is weathered or chiselled off. The crib, the ox, the ass and Joseph (note the Jewish hat, just like in Balve and Ense) are still clearly visible. To the right the three ladies visiting the tomb, bringing spices (one has a censer!). They are told by a small sitting angel that the tomb is empty.