In 2018, the Protestant parish of Schalksmühle can look back on 125 years of history. While the churches in Hülscheid and Halver have been documented since the early Middle Ages, the church in Schalksmühle only came into being in the course of industrialization, when roads and railroad lines were built and people from near and far settled in Schalksmühle.
Around 1890, according to a chronicle published to mark the anniversary, the residents agreed: "We need a church." This led to the founding of a "Kappenverein" and a "citizens' initiative", "which made the financing possible through collections and donations. To save costs, the congregation initially decided to build just a church hall with 400 seats and "a choir loft, but without a tower, galleries, bells and organ". The costs at the time amounted to 22,300 marks.
The church was built in 1892 according to the designs of the Elberfeld architect Chr. Gebhardt and consecrated on August 24. The church tower was added in 1896. The chronicle goes on to say that a forged cross of unusual size, still visible today, was placed on the gable as an unmistakable symbol. "It was donated by the merchant Ludwig Scharwächter from Leipzig. Due to the growing population and the increasing number of worshippers, the 400 seats available in the church were no longer sufficient, so the congregation decided to expand it in 1897.
A gallery was built on three sides, which provided another 200 seats." The tower and adjoining rooms were also built at this time. The expansion of the church was also accompanied by the purchase of two bells, which were installed in 1898. A third was added during the First World War in 1917. An organ was also purchased. "On the Feast of the Reformation, November 6, 1898, the extended church was reopened for its intended purpose." Two major renovations (1951 and 1971) shaped the church's current appearance. It was added to the municipality's list of monuments on December 15, 1983.
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