St. Nicolai Church
The largest place of worship in Sylt is the St. Nicolai Church in Westerland. This three-naved brick building was erected at the beginning of the 20th century, after the old St. Niels Village Church became too small. Construction began in 1906 and St. Nicolai was consecrated in 1908. The church was named after the 4th century Greek Bishop Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of merchants and seafarers.
This structure arose in the most historically aware epoch, a time in which architects tended to draw on older architectural styles. Thus, the St. Nicolai church, with its round arches and gables has Romantic (1000-1200 A.D.) and Brick Gothic (12-16th century) elements.
The interior was originally splendidly designed in accordance with Byzantine art. However, in the early 1960s it was redesigned so that today the only colourful elements left are the windows. The oldest piece in the church’s decoration is the granite baptismal font from the 12th/13th century, which originally came from the submerged church of the historical village of Eidum.
This structure arose in the most historically aware epoch, a time in which architects tended to draw on older architectural styles. Thus, the St. Nicolai church, with its round arches and gables has Romantic (1000-1200 A.D.) and Brick Gothic (12-16th century) elements.
The interior was originally splendidly designed in accordance with Byzantine art. However, in the early 1960s it was redesigned so that today the only colourful elements left are the windows. The oldest piece in the church’s decoration is the granite baptismal font from the 12th/13th century, which originally came from the submerged church of the historical village of Eidum.
