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St. James Church (German: St. Jakobskirche) is a Lutheran (originally Catholic) church in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. The church is on a medieval pilgrimage route to St. James Church in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It contains the celebrated Holy Blood Altarpiece by Tilman Riemenschneider^[1] and a monumental altarpiece by Friedrich Herlin.^[2] The church has two towers (south tower: 55.2 m, 57.7 m north tower).

History and description

The church was built between 1311 and 1484. Its east chancel was completed in 1322, nave built from 1373–1436, and west choir, which bridges the street, from 1453–1471. The church was consecrated in 1485 by the Bishop of Würzburg. In 1525 the peasant leader Florian Geyer read aloud the articles of the revolting peasants from its west chancel.

Its western gallery contains the famous Holy Blood altarpiece of the Würzburg wood carver Tilman Riemenschneider, created circa 1500–1505, which includes a rock crystal reliquary cross (c. 1270). The altar includes scenes of the entry into Jerusalem (right wing), Lord's Supper (shrine) with Judas as central figure and the Mount of Olives (left wing).^[3]

Other important relics include the High Altar (1466 by Friedrich Herlin a pupil of Rogier van der Weyden; also known as the Twelve Apostles Altar)^[4] in the east choir, which represents on its back side the oldest depiction of the city of Rothenburg and rare images of the Jakobs pilgrim legend, as well as an altar by Tilman Riemenschneider and Mary Coronation altar with sculptures from different centuries, including the Riemenschneider school. The stained glass windows of the east chancel are adorned with valuable images from 1350-1400 AD, including the left window (about 1400) with scenes of the life of the Virgin Mary, central window (circa 1350) with scenes from Christ's life and passion, and right window (about 1400) representing Christ's work of redemption and sacraments.

Great Organ

The great organ in St. Jakob was built by Rieger Orgelbau (Vorarlberg, Austria) in 1968, with 69 stops (108 ranks, c. 5,500 pipes), Tracker action and electric action for the stops. It can be played from the main console (4 manuals and pedal) and from a two-manual console on the back. The specification:

I Rückpositiv C–g³
Principal	8'
Rohrflöte	8'
Oktav	4'
Koppelflöte	4'
Gemshorn	2'
Quintlein	1¹/₃′
Scharf IV	1'
Sesquialter II	2²/₃′
Bärpfeife	16'
Krummhorn	8'
Tremulant

II Hauptwerk C–g³
Principal	16'
Oktave	8'
Spitzflöte	8'
Oktav	4'
Hohlflöte	4'
Quinte	2²/₃′
Superoktav	2'
Mixtur VI	1¹/₃′
Cimbel IV	²/₃′
Cornett V (from tenor g)	8'
Trompete	16'
Trompete	8'
Chamade	8'^[5]
Clairon	4'^[6]
Glockenspiel^[7]
Zimbelstern^[8]

III Schwellwerk (enclosed) C–g³
Pommer	16'
Principal	8'
Bleigedackt	8'
Salicional	8'
Schwebung	8'
Oktav	4'
Rohrflöte	4'
Nasat	2²/₃′
Blockflöte	2'
Terz	1³/₅′
Plein jeu V	2'
Buntcimbel IV	¹/₃′
Fagott	16'
Trompete	8'
Oboe	8'
Schalmei	4'
Tremulant

IV Brustwerk (enclosed) C–g³
Holzgedackt	8'
Quintade	8'
Spitzgedackt	4'
Spitzgambe	4'
Principal	2'
Sifflet	1'
Cimbel II	¹/₄′
Glechter IV	1³/₅′
Vox humana	8'
Musette	4'
Tremulant

Pedalwerk I C–f¹
Untersatz	32'^[9]
Principal	16'
Subbass	16'^[10]
Oktav	8'
Spillpfeife	8'
Flötoktav	4'
Nachthorn	2'
Mixtur VI	2²/₃′
Rauschbass IV	5¹/₃′
Basszink IV	5¹/₃′
Bombarde	16'
Sordun	16'^[11]
Posaune	8'
Zink	4'^[12]

Pedalwerk II C–f¹^[13]
Holzbass	16'
Flötbass	8'
Choralbass II	4'+1¹/₃′
Pommer	2'
Dulzian	16'

Gallery

Holy Blood altarpiece
Holy Blood altarpiece Detail: Entrance of Christ into Jerusalem
Holy Blood altarpiece Detail: Last Supper
Holy Blood altarpiece
Twelve Apostles Altar

References

^ Boivin, Katherine M. (2021-05-21). Riemenschneider in Rothenburg: Sacred Space and Civic Identity in the Late Medieval City. Penn State Press. ISBN 978-0-271-09001-6.
^ "Tourism Rothenburg ob der Tauber: St. Jakob Rothenburg ob der Tauber". www.rothenburg.de. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
^ Bryda, Gregory (2023). "The Spiritual Vintage". The Trees of the Cross: Wood as Subject and Medium in the Art of Late Medieval Germany. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300267655.
^ "High Altar by HERLIN, Friedrich". www.wga.hu. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
^ Horizontal reed stop (in the front facade).
^ Horizontal reed stop (in the front facade).
^ Chimes, C–f³ (enclosed in the swell division; added after 1968).
^ Added after 1968.
^ Wooden front pipes in the back facade.
^ Wooden front pipes in the back facade.
^ Horizontal reed stop (in the back facade).
^ Horizontal reed stop (in the front facade).
^ Only playable from the two-manual console in the back. The pipework of this division is located in the back, distributed in two separate cases above the console.