A Christian presence existed on these rural lands long before this church was built, as far back as the time of Charlemagne. This parish was recognized in its own right when a parish priest was appointed for the 1st time around 1726. A rudimentary building already existed, and a new choir was built in 1754. A letter addressed to the bishopric in 1819 said that work was urgently needed, and by 1844, the building had become downright too small! But it took the disastrous consequences of a storm and a violent lightning strike causing extensive damage for work to finally get underway from 1867. From then on, St Léger became a modest but beautiful little church, coiled in the heart of a quiet, peaceful village.
In 1873, the OTT Brothers of Strasbourg created the stained glass windows for the choir, and in 1882, there was the refurbishment of the interior paintings: the medallions executed by Maître Klotz of Soulzbach. They represent the 4 evangelists, 4 great doctors of the Church, as well as Ste Odile and Ste Richarde.
Schomas, a master painter from Villé, created a large fresco on the ceiling in 1936, no comparison with the Sistine Chapel...but still, it traces the vitality in our countryside by representing all the village trades of that era.
A Virgin and Child, Mary crowned in royal garb, older than the church, since the wooden statue is dated to the 15th century, allows us to assume that it was acquired while having had a previous life. It has been classified by the Monuments Historiques, and the parishioners are very proud of it!
A Stations of the Cross
A 14-painted-on-canvas Stations of the Cross were restored in 2018, beautifully restoring their colors. The presence of a baptistery may intrigue the visitor: it bears the date 1678, much older than the arrival of the 1st parish priest!" Celebrations are enhanced thanks to an organ installed in 1859 and electrified since 1945.
And then, in 1931, the definitive profile of Schaeffersheim's St Léger church took shape, with an impressive bell tower (30 meters high and 3 beautiful bells) visible from far and wide... Even from the "Bruch"! Today, it's probably a landmark for storks.
A Christian presence existed on these rural lands long before this church was built, as far back as the time of Charlemagne.
This parish was recognized in its own right when a parish priest was appointed for the 1st time around 1726. A rudimentary building already existed, and a new choir was built in 1754.
A letter addressed to the bishopric in 1819 said that work was urgently needed, and by 1844, the building had become downright too small!
But it took the disastrous consequences of a storm and a violent lightning strike causing extensive damage for work to finally get underway from 1867.
From then on, St Léger became a modest but beautiful little church, coiled in the heart of a quiet, peaceful village.
In 1873, the OTT Brothers of Strasbourg created the stained glass windows for the choir, and in 1882, there was the refurbishment of the interior paintings: the medallions executed by Maître Klotz of Soulzbach. They represent the 4 evangelists, 4 great doctors of the Church, as well as Ste Odile and Ste Richarde.
Schomas, a master painter from Villé, created a large fresco on the ceiling in 1936, no comparison with the Sistine Chapel...but still, it traces the vitality in our countryside by representing all the village trades of that era.
A Virgin and Child, Mary crowned in royal garb, older than the church, since the wooden statue is dated to the 15th century, allows us to assume that it was acquired while having had a previous life. It has been classified by the Monuments Historiques, and the parishioners are very proud of it!
A Stations of the Cross
A 14-painted-on-canvas Stations of the Cross were restored in 2018, beautifully restoring their colors.
The presence of a baptistery may intrigue the visitor: it bears the date 1678, much older than the arrival of the 1st parish priest!"
Celebrations are enhanced thanks to an organ installed in 1859 and electrified since 1945.
And then, in 1931, the definitive profile of Schaeffersheim's St Léger church took shape, with an impressive bell tower (30 meters high and 3 beautiful bells) visible from far and wide... Even from the "Bruch"! Today, it's probably a landmark for storks.
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