This group of sculptures stands on the village square in front of the church. A man is sharpening his axe on a large whetstone and a boy with a slingshot in his hand is watching mischievously from close by.
The story behind it can be found on a plaque on site and goes as follows:
The "Klein Rekener Funkensteen"
According to oral tradition, after the end of the 19th century there was a large stone to the east of the church wall of the parish church of St. Antonius, which the surrounding residents of the houses and farms in the lower village of the then independent municipality of Klein Reken sharpened their axes, hatchets and knives on. Since this process was also often associated with the spraying of sparks, the stone, which was accessible and used by the general public, was also called "Funkensteen" by the population (own note: Münsterland Low German for spark stone).
But the location of the stone was more than that, namely a place where residents met, exchanged messages or had a "chat" (own note: yes, that's how it was back then, when there was no WhatsApp or Instagram. People had longer conversations, face to face 😜)
When the new St. Antonius Church in Klein Reken was built (1911), this stone was removed or no longer erected. However, the name "Klein Rekener Funkensteen" has been retained to this day. The group of sculptures erected on the village square created here is intended to commemorate a piece of Klein Reken's history.