2017 feierte die St. Pantaleon Kirche in Dettlingen ihr 300 jähriges Jubiläum. Zu diesem Anlass verfasste unser Mitglied Karl Josef Dettling eine Festschrift die uns einen interessanten Einblick in die Geschichte gibt.
In the 12th century the place Dettlingen is mentioned for the first time, notations like Tetilingen and Teilingun were used. There were many notations to himself, in the end in 1432 the notation succeeded with Dettlingen. Dettlingen was a branch of the original parish Oberiflingen. In the 13th century Dettlingen is mentioned as an independent parish. The parish dissolves about 75 years later, Dettlingen became a branch of the parish Oberiflingen again. 
After the reformation about 1520 Oberiflingen got protestant, Dettlingen remained catholic and got from this time on supplied of the vicar from Dießen. In 1857 Dettlingen the parish Dießen could break and was raised to the parish of its own. The first parish priest Xaver Kessler from Haigerloch-Gruol, who provided the parish of 1859 to 1888, was buried in Dettlingen. His monument has been maintained on the Dettlinger cemetery. The splendid vicarage was also made at this time, it was built within the years 1857 to 1859.
Our parish church was built from 1712 to 1717 by the princely abbey of cloister Muri in Switzerland. The church was dedicated to the saint St.Pantaleon in May 1724.
choir. While renovation the church in the middle of the sixties, the emblem was moved and attached over the entry to the tower.
It is remarkable that Dettlingen changed together with Dießen into the possession of the cloister Muri in 1708, this church was built by the cloister already 4 years later.
The works of art being in the church partly date from a previous construction of today's church. This is due to the foundation from the 15th century on which we will come back later again. We start with our virtual tour by our church with the look at the neo-gothic high altar which belongs to one of the most beautiful works in this region.
The altar shrine is put on the canteen, it was created at the time at 1510 to 1530, when Dettlingen was part of the power Dießen and belonged tot he Ehingische aristocratic dynasty. The building and the foundations are neo-gothic and might have been made in the time of the building of today's church.
A former local historian writes: "In 1865 on July 3rd a new high altar was put up in the church to Dettlingen". In a note of the parish priest Klek from the year 1899, successor of parish priest Kesseler, a renovation of the high altar is called in 1863. This is documented also on the inside of the old arsenic shrine.
The art-historical value of the altar is represented by the middle shrine with all his paintings and saints figures. The shrine shall be made in 1491 of Burkard of Ehingen of to Dießen and his wife's Barbara. There are doubts however on the foundation year, becaue the altar shrine is assigned tot he works oft he „Heinstetter Meister“, who was active in the beginning oft he 16th century in our area.
Saint Barbara is centrically in the middle part of the altar. Usually at such portraits, the church patron is in the middle, but he was replaced by the named patron of the donator of the shrine, Saint Barbara, to the left on the outside here. Saint Barbara is often represented with a tower since the following happened himself after an old roman story:
We see on the open left wing the sacred Christophorus, family patron saint of the Burkhards of Ehingen. Burkhard of Ehingen kneels to his feet into knight's armor, the Ehingische coat of arms indicates the power.
We see the crowned mother of God on the open right wing with the Jesus chils to whose feet the donator "Barbara of Neuneck“ kneels. Saint Maria was patron of the "Sirs of Neuneck". In the picture below we see the coat of arms of Neuneck.
On the closed right wing Saint Katharina and Saint Ursula are shown, both carry crowns as a reference to her noble descent, as well as the donator "Barbara von Neuneck“ was of noble origin. Saint Sebastian and Saint Georg are shown into knight's armor on the unanimously left wing. Both saints also belong to the 14 emergeny helpers and were very popular with the knights.
We see centrically crucified Christ in the the altar. The lamenting mother Maria and on the right the disciple Johannes are shown on the left.
Two wall paintings on the left and on the right of the triumphal arch of Herman Bantle from the year 1915 decorate the church nave.
"The lost son" on the left side and "the assignment of the
pastorate to Peter" on the right are represented
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The pulpit is on the |
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The paintings are the representation of the four Church Fathers:
From the left: Ambrosius with book and feather, Hieronymus with the skull, Augustinus with heart, pierced by two arrows, and Gregor with a pigeon on the shoulder.
We come to another preciousness of our church, the Agatha shrine. The little shrine with Saint Agatha found a venerable place at the eastern wall oft he church nave during the last church renovation in 1963. The shrine resulted in the year 1589 in the time when Dettlingen belonged the „Sirs von of Wernau“. On the gable board of the shrine the coat of arms of Wernau reminds us of their power. Inside the shrine the figure of Saint Agatha from the time at the end of the 16th century.
Saint Agatha also belongs to the 14 emergeny helpers, she was symbol against illnesses of the women, danger of fire and famine. Again and again, we run into the 14 emergeny helpers, an indication that these have played an
important role in those times.
We see on the left of Saint Agatha Neuneck's coat of arms and on right the Ilingensche coat of arms. The illustration of these coats of arms lead us back in the year 1457, when the nobleman Post of of Neuneck died. At that time Dettlingen and Dießen belonged into the possession of the sirs of Neuneck. The Ilingensche coat of arms reminds us of the wife of the Junkers Hans Post von Neuneck "Agatha Feystin of Ilingen" with which we have the relation to the saint' Agatha, the named patron now. They were ancestors of the donator of yelling in the high altar "Barbara of Neuneck“. On the right wing we see Saint Georg with the signature "Patron zu Bittelbronn“ and on the left side Saint Sebastian with the signature "Patron zu Dettling“, with whom Dettlingen well was meant. Saint Sebastian was well the patron saint of the civil village of Dettlingen. A special meaning is assigned to the so-called Agatha shrine in the Dettlinger church. Closing the the leaved doors of the shrine, a foundation written on parchment appears on the back of the two doors.
On this the following is written:
One has written in the year, thousand four hundred fifty seven,
the Juncker Post of Neuneck died, after his death out of free courage.
His left Wittfrau Treu Frau Agatha without any inhibition
A Feystin of Ilingen already, the one of Dettlingen and Bittelbronn
takes a large piece of woods, on Dettlinger Zwing an Ban.
Called on the Hochberg, this one is of them
eternally used in the Gemeind, with which mills to Haugenstein
for this then owes to her owe, one be in honor of season.
Celebrate all year Saint Agatha Day and give her memory in Dettlingen
where she is buried anniversary with Seelenmess, announced beforehand.
The municipalities of Dettlingen and Bittelbronn came over this gift of "Sirs Pfost von Neuneck“ into the possession of the Hochberger woods and the Haugenstein mill. The municipality of Dettlingen, which incorporated the largest portion, was obliged to the annual requiem oblige himself. Further mentioned that this portrait of Saint Agatha of „Wernauisches Vogt“ was ordered at that time as remembrance of this gift and and from a Roman Catholic conviction to the gratitude of the release from the „Lutheranism".
The dedication in conclusion describes the history of Saint Agatha. In addition a prayer text to Saint Agatha is written down,
here a short excerpt:
Lord give us peace and eternity in this depressing time.
At your word get us, help the body and souls there.
And lead us to Saint Agatha, we sing Alleluia
For praise and honor of your name, amen.
Saint Agatha, the chosen from noble parents.
Since that time this "Seelenmess" has been kept in honor of the Pfost of Neuneck in the Dettlinger church. Back for the general history the following still must be mentioned: Remarkable is the Pantaleonspflege until the beginning of the 20th century, about whose foundation nothing is known. At all events the parish was one of the richest parishes in the area. The Pantaleonspflege owned approx. 80 000 Gulden in 1800. The building of our shool and city hall in 1847 was financed by this foundation with about 12 000 Gulden. The costs for the building of a splendid parish room were estimated at about 17 000 Gulden.
This fund was accessed also translocally up to Sigmaringen. The inflation after the first World War unfortunately melted this fund. Another contemporary witness of history is immortalized in the foot of the church steeple. Right next to
the entrance of the church in approx 1,50m height, a piece of a new red sandstone is immured in the corner of the tower wal This is part of a so-called atoning cross which had to be built by the guilty person in the place of an accident in earlier times. Originally this cross stands at the old street to Bittelbronn below today's cemetery. One plowshare was one chiseled in this cross, which should remind that plowshare was beaten to somebody to death with one here.
Dettlingen was an independent parish till 1983, 6 parish priests were employed in the parish Dettlingen to there, of what three have her grave in Dettlingen.
Tower document
Written in the original text of 1948 by Dr. theol. Paul Keuchel
(Newly processed fort he 300th church anniversary in 2017 by Karl Josef Dettling)
In the name oft he FATHER+ and the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT'S AMEN
With God’s help the extensive and dangerous renewal works on the church steeple in Dettlingen became perfectly fullfilled within the first November weeks of the year 1946. Terrible winter storms middle of January 1948 had torned up the sheeting of the tower and flung down the wooden boarding being under it. It had taken revenge that nothing sufficient had been done for the structural maintenance of the tower for decades. The accident was in a time of the currency depreciation, and no craftsmen and no material was available. A new money currency but also a great shortage of money started on June 21st, 1948.
6000 Deutschmark loans could be nevertheless taken up. It helped out with 2000 Deutschmarks each advance: The general Roman Catholic church fund Sigmaringen ( Rendant: clergyman advice director KARL KAUPP, a son of our town), the political municipality Dettlingen and the savings bank Dettlingen. Only 833 Deutschmarks could be contributed from the church fund which was decimated strongly in the cash value. The damage proved to be much bigger than the first examinations had yielded. A high scaffolding was on the windward side of the tower was absolutely necessary. The first scaffolding poles were put on September 8th, 1948, at 10 o'clock in the morning. The scaffolding height up to the tower helmet amounted to 7 floors. The most damaged tower helmet was one armed all around. This yielded 8 floors up to the spire again. The lateral braces of the high scaffolding were used from the open church roof. The whole scaffolding was ready in the evening 7 p.m. on Septembers 22nd, 1948. The next day the the tower cross and weathercock were let down. The plasterwork work on the windward side of the tower was executed by September 23rd to 29th. Scaffolding and plasterwork are received been executed from building contractor OTTO KLEINDIENST from Empfingen.
The carpenter works lasted under management of the two room masters KONRAD FASSNACHT and AIBERT STRAUB (both of Obertalheim) with 3 assistants from October 4th to 12th 6 p.am. in the year 1948.
Among other things it had to replace:
3 burr rafters of 15 m length 16/18, 5 rafters of 6 to l1 m length 16/18
further a part of the wreath timberwork the tower helmet stands on, as well as approx. 60 qm of the outer framework distant. All these heavy joists were pulled up by the 5 carpenters with the aid of approx. 15 men without any machinery on the tower from the village by hand. An extremely laborious and dangerous work, which could be carried out without every accident with Gods help. The smith works were done by master smith JAKOB KLIGUS from Schopfloch, the plumber works of plumber master HERMANN LUST from Dürrenmettstetten. The latter started on October 13th. The whole tin roof of the tower helmet was replaced with sheet iron of 0.6 mm of strength, which was painted twice with nitro varnish for the rise life time. The dials of the church clock have painted newly by master painter HERMANT BLACK from Schopfloch as well as tower cross, weathercock and 4 turrets on half height of
the tower helmet. Thousand thanks to God that this work almost seeming impossible came safely at end in such hard time! The authorities and persons which had to do with this work are mentioned to later generations. The
construction time fell in the government of the archiepiscopal Kapitularvikars DR. WILHELM BURGER, Freiburg im Breisgau, and in the time of theelection of consecration and inthronisation of the new archbishop Dr. WENDELIN SMOKE. He was born in Zell am Andelsbach not far from Pfullendorf, where the present parish Sir of Dettlingen Dr. theol. PAUL KEUCHEL worked until September 1947.
Once Subregens and seminary of the diocese Ermland in Braunsberg (Ostpreussen), he had he left his native country under great serious danger in spring 1945 at the rush of the russian military and escaped over flee ice of the Frischen Haffes up to South Germany. The flourishing diocese Ermland was victim of the dreadful cruelty russian communism at that time. Bishop MAXIMILIAN KALLER survived the terrible event for only 2 years. He died of heartbeat in
Frankfurt as on July 7th, 1947. Main. This unspeakable sorrow of the German Eastern is dedicated to the the tower document!
Topmost church building authority is the archiepiscopal top Board of Trustees in Freiburg im Breisgau. Parish council Dettlingen has Dr. theol. PAUL Keuche las chairman, vice chairman is farmer JOSEF KAUPP, members are mayor HUBERT DETTLING, postal clerk NICHOLAS SCHAEFER, pensioner PETER LEHMANN, farmer and cellarman JAKOB EPPLE. Mesmer is street keeper PIUS DETTLING, whose family provides this office for already 72 years. The political municipality has mayor HUBERT DETTLING at her lead, district councils are: Farmer JOSEF KAUPP, lion host JOSEF SCHAEFER, farmer JOSEF LEHMANN, farmer STEFAN SINGER, community accountant FRIDOLIN KAUPP, municipality computer is XAVER EPPLE. The savings bank Dettlingen is represented by farmer JOSEF KAUPP, mayor HUBERT DETTLING, farmer STEFAN SINGER and managing director XAVER EPPLE. Primary school " Dettling is directed by teacher JOHANN FECKER.
51 men and young men took part in the World War 1939 to 1945, of what 12 died and 5 i are missed, 2 are still in captivity. In the morning of the church fair celebration in 1944 an air attack was carried out on the railroad line north of the village. In the same week the gatekeeper house was destroyd at renewed air attack. Human lifes could not be lamented. In the night from March 5th on 6th, 1945, about 500m southeast of the church am Hochberg and cattle drive approx. l0 bombs go down, through about 50 cubic meters of wood were destroyed in the municipality and private woods. The sacristy window was pressed in by the air pressure, the colored glass windows at the high altar and some roofs in the village were damaged. The french soldiers came in the village at 8 p.m. on April 4th 1945. They maintained a catering kitchen for approx. 14 days for their running troops. The municipality woods were chopped
down by the french soldiers in August 1948 (approx. 600 cubic meters). The government of the country Hohenzollern is commanded by head of provincial government MOSER and his representative mayor MUELLER in Sigmaringen.
Now it is much discussion about the state association of Baden, Württemberg and Hohenzollern at the moment. Germany lies heavily like at the end oft he Schwedenkrieg. Since may 1945 it is completely occupied of 4 foreign powers (America, Russia, England, France) , which obviously are disagreed and armed for a third even bigger World War. The world trembles with the coming general destruction by the Russian Bolshevism and the terrible atomic bomb. Our glorious holy father pope Pius XII. puts his confidence on the maternal heart of Maria and watches wave impulse of the times with a sacred calmness.
God may protect this peaceful village from new war frights!
Peace, sweet harmony, stays, stays friendly over this place.
Dettlingen (Hohenzollern) in November 1948.
The parish council:
Dr. heol. Paul Keuchel
Pfv Josef Kaupp,
Nikolaus Schäfer,
Peer Lehmann,
Hubert Detling
Written on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Pantaleon church Dettlingen of Karl Josef Dettling, Dettlingen in May 2017
Sources: Federal Archives Sigmaringen, native country books of the surrounding villages, book "Das Oberamt Haigerloch“, newspaper articlse and private documents.
Photos: Karl Josef Dettling
Translatet: Andrea Dettling