Stephanskapelle Appenzell

St. Stephen (26 December)

Crypt under the choir of the parish church of St. Mauritius in the village centre of Appenzell.

The oldest and at the same time artistically most uniform church in the canton is the St. Stephen's Chapel or "Gloriszätti". The thick walls with the two window openings, the rustic building elements and the discreet colour scheme of the grey flooring, light-coloured pillars and paper-white walls immerse the two-aisled crypt in the atmosphere of a mysterious burial cave. The group of crosses on the left dates from 1608. When the old staircase was demolished, a stone cross with the Gothic date 1481 came to light. Since 2000, the former May devotional Madonna from the parish church has stood next to the altar. The chapel has 95 seats with the gallery.

History
The lower church was built in 1513, i.e. at the same time as the parish church with the mighty tower at that time. It was consecrated in 1521; the wooden gallery was also built at this time. After the village fire of 1560, the lower church was used as the actual church until the parish church was rebuilt. However, it also had the function of a place of worship for the "grey sisters", as the beguines from the convent were called. In 1709, the name "Gloriskirch" appeared for the first time. From 1716, when a new altar was erected in the parish church, the lower church slowly sank into oblivion and insignificance. Until the middle of the 20th century, when it was renovated and given a new entrance, it was a rather feared space. During the renovation in 1953, Johannes Hugentobler made the stained glass. A new floor and a new, wooden gallery were built. The inauguration took place on 2 July 1953.