The oldest
part of this ancient church in Lembach is the belfry which dates from the
13th century. The church was originally Catholic but in 1543 the
Lords of Fleckenstein introduced the Reformed religion. It became
Lutheran in 1603. November 10, 1716, the "simultanéun" was
introduced to the church in Lembach. The church was then used by
both Catholics and Protestants. In 1909 the Catholics built their
own church. Since then the ancient church in Lembach has been used
only for the Protestants.
For a good number of years, Catholics and Protestants gather at least
once a year to pray together. Sometimes it is in the Catholic church,
sometimes in the Protestant church. They pray that their churches
will remain places of Peace, Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Love and hope
for these things for all that enter there.
Lembach Church Photo & Text for Webpage Courtesy of Marion
C. Bale
This pulpit in
the ancient church in Lembach was produced from a block of sandstone associated
with the Vosges, the mountains in which the village of Lembach is nestled
in northern Alsace, France. The carvings in the stone represent the
tree of knowledge.
Lembach Pulpit Photo & Text for Webpage Courtesy of Marion
C. Bale
These rainbows were
viewed in the town of Niedersteinbach which is right next to Lembach.
It was seen by Marion Bale as she approached, for the first time, the town
of her ancestors, Lembach. It seemed to promise a peek at the lives
of our ancestors, for which so many of us yearn. It is always to
be found just over the next hill.
Niedersteinbach Photo & Text Courtesy of Marion C. Bale
This is the
town of Lembach as viewed from a nearby mountainside. The town is
surrounded by the natural beauty of the Vosges Mountains. The church
steeple on the left is the ancient Church of Lembach. The steeple
on the right is the new Catholic Church built in 1909.
Town of Lembach Photo & Text Courtesy
of Marion C. Bale
Copyright© 1998 by Joan M Young