Auxiliary Bishop Anton Leichtfried came to Hirschbach on August 20th to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the consecration of the church in order to celebrate a festive service with Pastor Franz Urlaub. The church and men’s choirs as well as the brass band in the choir of the church performed for the musical accompaniment.
After a very appealing sermon by the auxiliary bishop, the sacrament of St. communion before the clergy moved out of the church. Afterwards a film presentation about 300 years existence of the local church was presented.
The records show that a castle chapel had been built beforehand and that it was first mentioned in a document in 1332. This chapel was expanded into a Protestant castle church in the last quarter of the 16th century. After the Counter-Reformation and the associated renewed reconstruction, the church in Hirschbach was reconsecrated in 1723 and raised to the status of a parish church in 1741.
A sign reads: “Anno MDCCXXIII, August 19th, the current castle chapel was consecrated by His Bishop Grace Raimund of the Holy Roman Empire, Count von Lamberg as Bishop of Passau in honor of the Holy Cross”. This means that on that day, exactly 300 years ago, the church was rededicated.
In the meantime, the brass band had taken a seat on the stage in the castle courtyard to play for the morning pint. Members of the clubs and the parish church council provided the numerous morning pint visitors with food and drink.
