Protestant church, Sulz.

Protestant church, Sulz. Eglise Protestante
de Soultz-sous-Forêts

THE PROTESTANT CHURCH OF SULZ UNTERM WALD

The civil history and church history of Sulz is strongly tied with the dominion of the Fleckenstein family. Very early in the history was Sulz an important part of their property.

THE DOMINION FLECKENSTEIN

In the middle ages there were two cities of important influence in Northern Alsace: Haguenau and Weissenburg (today Wissembourg), Weissenburg was the site of a renown Benedictine Abby (founded in the 7th century) whose property stretched from Hatten, Hohweiler, Kühlendorf, Betschdorf, Surburg, Ingolsheim, Kutzenhausen to Merkweiler. The influence of the convent goes back to the 10th century.

Haguenau won its importance under the Hohenstaufen. The one-eyed Duke Friedrich II gained the Dukedom of Alsace by transfer from his father-in-law Kaiser Heinrich IV. He built various castles between Lichtenberg to Wegelnburg by Obersteinbach. This line of castles was the "defensive wall" against the Dukedom of Lothringen and the Dominion of Zweibrücken, and as a symbol of strength of the Dukedom Alsace. Duke Friedrich II was the founder of Haguenau and his control was continued by his son Friedrich Barbarossa. The castles and ministries that occupied the area watched over the Dukedom, that resulted in a slow expansion of families and relatives that became known in our region.

In 1129 is the first record of the name Fleckenstein, and he was Gottfried von Fleckenstein. His castle atop a hill near Lembach probably was built between 1116 and 1122.

We do not know about the beginnings of the Fleckenstein rule - but it is assumed that they must have belonged to the line of nobility in the region. The first Baron Fleckenstein was elevated to this title in 1467. The first Fleckenstein castle knights were not content with their castle. They acquired various areas and more villages and over time increased their importance.

THE COMMUNITY OF SULZ UNTERM WALD

Sulz, which began as a community that belonged to the Bishop of Cologne was transferred in 1274 to the Fleckensteins. Following a dispute in 1346 Heinrich von Fleckenstein gained ownership from the Bishop of Cologne the villages of Sulz, Hermersweiler, Retschweiler, Miesenthal, half of Lobsann, Merkweiler, Hoelscholch, Hohweiler, Kutzenhausen and Keffenach. These communities formed the church community of Sulz. Sulz was elected to become the primary community of this grouping and in 1346 was elevated to a Freistadt and given the right to hold markets by the Emperor. Old archives record that a castle was built in Sulz, whose location would be behind the Markthalle today.

Several Fleckensteins were in high positions in the church and state government: Landvögte in Haguenau, in the Cathedrals of Speyer, Strasbourg and Baden. Over time in the history of the Fleckensteins, they divided into several lines including Fleckenstein-Dagstuhl and Fleckenstein-Bickenbach-Sulz. It was Ludwig I (von Fleckenstein-Sulz) that decided for the Reformation in 1541. (He took part in a religious discussion in Worms and "with full determination chose the side of the Reformation of Melanchton and Butzer."

In 1543 Heinrich VIII, with the understanding of his two brothers, introduced the Reformation into his dominion. In 1672 the governors of Alsace created a church and police regulation that they should regularly take part in church services with a goal of enhancing morals and ethics.

The first minister of the Sulz church whose name we know, was G. Keller who served from 1582 to 1622. In the 30 Years War the entire Barony Fleckenstein was heavily devastated. The ministry must have been vacant for a long time, as (during the 30 Years War) many villages were abandoned. Between 1635-1664 one minister served the entire Fleckenstein area between Roederen and Lembach.

In 1648 the Alsace became part of France. Catholic churches were introduced into many Fleckenstein villages. A "Royal Catholic Ministry" was formed in Sulz in 1693. The protestant church was used for both services from 1696 to 1909.

The last Fleckenstein died in 1720, leaving no male heirs. As result, King Louis XV of France, transferred the Barony of Fleckenstein to Rohan Soubise, the brother of the Bishop of Strasbourg. The rulers of Hanau-Lichtenburg were responsible for all church matters, including the collection of church taxes. The Hanau-Lichtenburg crest is in one of the church windows. Herr von Geiger, administrator for Rohan-Soubise, occupied the building that today is the home for the Catholic priest at Soultz sous Forêt. They named Binder Castle that was built in 1750. The administrators of Hanau-Lichtenburg approved the building of the Protestant minister home/office in 1726.

THE PROTESTANT CHURCH

Little is known about the building of the Protestant Church in Sulz. The oldest part of the church is the altar area and the lower part of the church tower.

The key stone for the altar portion of the church is inscribed 1514 - thus, one suspects that the church was built in the 16th century. It was named St. Peter & St. Paul Church, and probably was founded by the Weissenburg Abby. On August 25, 1719 the church tower was struck by lightning and burned down. The pastor Johann Balthazar Bender reported in the church book "On the 25th of August 1719 came a frightening sign of the wrath of God over the community, and as the Gasthauser and homes were filled of people and drunks, struck a frightening thunder in the top the church tower - that resulted in the death of the Catholic school principal, who rang the weather bell - setting the church tower on fire. The fire burned the building down to the foundation and burned so fiercely that no even the church bell was spared - it melted in the flames.

The church was rebuilt in 1730.

The church was renovated in 1912 and remains in this form today. At the same time the organ was restored. In the tower are three bells - the smallest was installed in 1874 and the other two in 1923, replacing two bells that were confiscated during the first World War. Windows are from 1912 and 1951.

The church serves the Protestant Community Soultz sous Forêt which includes the villages of Soultz, Retschweiler and Lobsann.