The Hövelsenner chapel commemorates the residents of the Hövelhof district of Hövelsenne, which had to give way almost entirely to today's Senne military training area in the last century.
The building is a scaled-down replica of the former St. Joseph's Church, which finally had to be abandoned in 1974 and was later blown up. The window fragments, a floor tile and some stones from the old church form the inner core of the new chapel.
The names engraved on the paving stones in front of the building stand for the 135 former farmsteads whose residents were resettled in Mecklenburg, in the Rhineland or directly in Hövelhof.
The history of the district of Hövelsenne and its church began with settlement in the 17th century. In 1923, the St. Joseph's Church was built from donations and personal contribution.
Until 1974, the church was a place of prayer, reflection and coming together. After the district of Hövelsenne had been affected by resettlement plans due to the expansion of the military training area since the early years of the war, these plans were pushed through after the war after a long struggle on both sides. 135 families lost their homes and had to move. The last mass was celebrated in Hövelsenne in 1974, and in 1985 the church was blown up to everyone's horror. Today, a memorial stone and a mountain of rubble on the military training area remind us of the spot where the church stood.
The possibility of coming to Hövelsenne and praying and remembering at the old place has become more and more difficult over time. It is only possible with a special permit and in small groups with the appropriate guide.
However, the district of Hövelsenne still lives on in the hearts of the people of Hövelsenne.
For this reason, the Förderverein Hövelsenner Kapelle e.V. built the memorial chapel, a place of remembrance and commemoration that is freely accessible to everyone at all times.
The chapel was created through donations and personal contribution, as was St. Joseph's Church in 1923. The exterior is based on the appearance of St. Joseph's Church. The orientation of the chapel is identical to the old orientation of St. Joseph's Church.
The location is also chosen with care. This site is on the same street, within sight of the old site of the church. It is the closest place to the border of the military training area on the old site of the town of Hövelsenne. There is no better location that comes close to reflecting the emotional and visible closeness.
Visit the small chapel on the outskirts of Hövelsenne!
The Hövelsenner Chapel in Hövelhof is an important monument that commemorates the history and the former residents of the Hövelsenne district. This district was in the area of today's military training area and had to give way to military use, which led to the resettlement of around 130 families. The chapel, which was built in 2014/2015, serves as a reminder of Hövelsenne and its community, which had to be abandoned for the expansion of the Senne military training area.
The settlement of Hövelsenne began around 1650 from Hövelhof along the Krollbach, the Haustenbach and the bone stream. A school was built there in 1800 and as early as 1809, the Paderborn Vicar General enabled the residents to hold church services in the school's specially equipped chapel. A separate church was only consecrated in 1923, after the community had traveled the long way to the Hövelhof church for many years. This church, which was very close to the hearts of the Hövelsenners, was blown up in 1985 after the last service was celebrated in 1974. Today only a memorial stone reminds us of the former church.
The Hövelsenner Chapel is not only a place of remembrance, but also a popular destination for cycle tourists, especially as it is located on the Ems cycle path. Its external design is based on the former St. Joseph's Church true to scale, and some original elements, such as windows, were integrated into the replica. The chapel represents the solidarity of the former Hövelsen community, which has been preserved to this day despite the dispersal caused by resettlements.
Translated by Google •
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