The church was built in 1765 by master builder Andreas Hieselhahn and three other journeymen in just one year. This is documented on a plaque in the church tower with the words: "Master Andreas Hieselhahn built this church with three journeymen, one servant. The foundation of the church began on March 6th and the wall was finished on October 3rd.(...)”.
Nothing is known about the previous church of Gröst, however the plague stone from 1463
taken over by her and is located on the south side of the church. It says that in one
half a year 180 people fell victim to the plague in Gröst, where the town probably had no more than 250 inhabitants at that time.
The church owes its name to Saint Kilian of Würzburg, a patron saint for painters, cooperage and winegrowers. Viticulture has been documented in Gröst since 1349. The figure of Saint Kilian is built into the north side of the church tower, but has been damaged by weather influences for several years.
The Trampeli organ built in 1807 is something special of its kind. Unfortunately, it cannot be played at the moment, but donations are being collected for the complete renovation of the organ.
Only one gravestone from 1846 has survived from the graves around the church.
On February 27, 1846, Susanne Rühlmann (née Gebhardt), the great-great-great-grandmother of Doris Erfurth and Wilfried Enax, died at the age of 36. Her husband Johann Christian had this round grave pillar built, where he himself was buried by his descendants in 1889. In addition to the church, this is also a special monument in the Merseburg region.
In 867 a clock was installed in St. Kilian's church. Although this was electrified in 2016, the old clockwork is still fully preserved.
Source: Chronicle of Gröst by Ms. Engel