The tall tower of St. Johannes-Nepomuk with its green top dominates the skyline of Kehl. The original catholic church along with other churches was destroyed in the Siege of Kehl in 1793 and the government only allowed one church to be built. Known as “Friendeskirche,”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/rhine/d_kehl/friendskirche/index.html this served both Protestant and Catholic congregations until St Johannes Nepomuk was built at the beginning of the C20th. This is a large neo-Romanesque building. There is no information in the church and little on the web.
It is a very large building and almost impossible to photograph from the outside because of houses or trees.
There is a huge painting of the Ascension above the doorway on Gustav-Weis-Strasse. Entry is through the side door. At the back directly opposite the door is a small chapel set in an apse with a carving of the Virgin holding the dead body of Christ.
Inside it is a huge church and feels quite dark with grey stone pillars and grey walls. Arcades of round pillars with round arches separate the nave from the side aisles. These are lined with confessionals. The stained glass is made up of geometric shapes of in shades white, grey, pink & purple. Between the arches are statues of saints. The underside of the arches and the ceiling ribs are painted in a Celtic design with blue, grey and gold swirls. The chancel arch is also painted with the Lamb of God at the top and deer at the base.
At the ends of the side aisles are chapels with large paintings of the Stations of the Cross on the walls. The north chapel is the Lady Chapel with a statue of the Virgin above the altar.
Steps lead up to the high alter in an apse. This has carvings of angels on either side of the host box with the symbols of the passion. Above is a scene of the crucifixion. On either side in smaller apses are more chapels.
This is a very attractive church and is open daily. It is a short walk from the town centre and is worth finding.
There are more pictures “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/rhine/d_kehl/johannes/index.html
