State Germany District Gotha | Province Thuringia Municipality Ohrdruf | |
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Affiliation Protestant (Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirchgemeinde Ohrdruf) Similar Museum im Schloss Ehrenstein, Tobiashammer, St John's Church - Lüneburg, Bach Church - Arnstadt, Bach House | ||
The Michaeliskirche or St. Michaelis Kirche (St. Michael's Church) in the Thuringian town of Ohrdruf was the site of Johann Sebastian Bach's first employment.
History
Previous churches at the site go back to the 8th century and are associated with Saint Boniface who reportedly founded the first monastery in Thuringia here, dedicated to Saint Michael.
J. S. Bach was orphaned at the age of 10 and went to live with his eldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach, who was the organist at the Michaeliskirche and later a teacher at the Lyceum. Johann Sebastian also attended school here.
The church contained a three-manual German baroque organ in a historic case of Austrian origin. It was here that Bach learned about organ building. The organ needed constant repairs, and he was sent into the organ often to fix minor problems.
The church burned down in 1753 and 1808 when fires raged through the town, but rebuilt each time. The church was again destroyed by Allied bombing in 1945, only the roofless 15th century tower remained. This was covered by a concrete roof until 1998/99 when the tower was reconstructed. Today, the tower houses a small chapel and an exhibition on the church's history.