Horn - Evangelical Reformed Church

Horn (since 1970 part of Horn-Bad Meinberg) was founded by Bernhard III, Edler Herr zur Lippe, after 1230. It was first mentioned in 1248. Horn was located on the old road, that run from Cologne to Hamlin - and today is known as "Bundesstrasse 1" (B1).

Horn got strongly fortified with a surrounding wall and a moat. The castle, was part of this fortification, though it was later used as a kind of retirement home by several widows of the House of Lippe.

Armed conflicts over the city took place in particular during the Soest feud (1444–1449) and during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). In 1864, large parts of the city were destroyed in a fire, about 60 houses burnt down including the town hall.
The exact age of the church is unknown. It is certain, however, is that a single-nave Romanesque church already existed when the city was founded around 1245. The lower part of the tower is dated to before 1200, the sound arcades date from the early 13th century. The rest of the church was extended around 1480 on the old foundations to a three-aisled, two-bay hall church in the Gothic style.

The church was used by Catholics and later by Lutherans, but in 1605 Simon VI, Count of Lippe, adopted the Reformed Faith. He promoted its spreading within his county, using his monarchic privilege of "cuius regio, eius religion". So his faith mostly superseded the previously dominant Lutheran faith.

The epitaph of Cord von Mengersen, who died 8. December 1562 (see the top line).