The Church of Groß Mohrdorf and its Baroque History

The hall church of Groß Mohrdorf was built during the second half of the 13th century. The eastern part of the building is structured by a polygonal choir, attached to the three-aisled nave. In 1764, the whole church was renovated. Thus, the former arched sacristy got a new flat ceiling with paintings of tendrils. On the inside, the nave is structured through a cross-ribbed vault with engaged columns. In the eastern archway, there are well preserved mural paintings from the Middle Ages. Most of the baroque interior was built in 1710 by the Stralsund craftsman Johann(es) Wendt.

The two-storey retable is ornamented with elaborate acanthus-carvings and certain biblical scenes. There is a depiction of The Last Supper in the predella, above this, follows a crucifixion group. There are also some bible-figures attached: The crucified Christ, also two crucified thieves, the Mother of God and Saint Mary Magdalene who knees in front of the cross. On her right stands Saint John the Evangelist. Both reredoses are ornamented with lockets which show further Passion sceneries: Jesus at Mount Olivet on the left hand side and on the opposite, a biblical scene with the scourging of Christ. Above this, there are the Saints Peter and Paul with a picture of Christ and the ascension-scene in the middle. The retable is crowned by the ascending Christ and his apostles. The winding Ionic columns of the retable are very special, because in the Baltic Area pillars with Corinthian capitals are more typical. The communion rail is also ornamented with winding balusters and puttees, which exhibit the Christ’s way of grief.

The lavished ornamented pulpit was also made by the Stralsund sculptor Wendt. He finished his work on the pulpit in 1702. The numerous and filigree acanthus carvings frame certain reliefs, which show scenes from the Old and the New Testament. Biblical allegories, like faith and hope, and also apostles are attached around the portal and the pendentive. The entrance of the pulpit is ornamented with four evangelist figures. A sculpture of the prophet Moses carries the polygonal bases of the pulpit, while herms of angels are attached to its side. Winding columns frame the curtain walling panels. They illustrate relief-like scenes from the life of Christ and the pulpit ceiling shows different pictures from the Old Testament. The polygonal body of the pulpit is adorned with newel posts and puttees. Above this, the pulpit crowns a figure of Saint Mary with her child.