St. Jakobus

St. Jakobus is an evangelical Lutheran church in Creußen, a small town in Upper Franconia. It stands on a steep slope above the Red Main river, giving it a distinctive two-level entrance. The thick walls of its tower suggest it once formed part of a medieval fortress. Records indicate a church existed here as early as the 11th century, serving the garrison of Duke Heinrich of Schweinfurt. This first building was destroyed during the Hussite Wars in 1430. The church was rebuilt between 1477 and completed by 1520, when the sacrament house was added to the choir. The tower was raised in 1567 and again after a fire in 1633. Repairs in the late 17th century included raising the nave and adding a porch, marked by the margrave’s coat of arms. A neogothic pulpit was later replaced with a baroque one in 1969. Inside, visitors see ceiling frescoes by Gabriel Schreyer depicting Christ’s ascension and the shepherds’ adoration. The choir altar and double balconies feature carved angels and figures by Elias Räntz. Stuck decorations by Bernhard Quadri include the margrave’s coat of arms and the town’s own emblem. The unusual two-level layout reflects the wide parish that once stretched far beyond Creußen.