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In the entrance hall, two large sandstone relief panels stand upright on the west wall of the church. They date from the 14th century and were originally the cover panels of two tombs in the church of the Franciscan monastery in the north of the city. In 1537, the panels were transferred to the castle church. The left panel shows the Ascanian Elector Rudolf II (r. 1356-1370) in knight's armor. The coat of arms on his shield identifies him as Duke of Saxony, the crossed swords above his head is the symbol of the Saxon electoral dignity. Next to him stands his wife Elisabeth in the simple garment of a widow. According to the inscription, she died three years after him (1373).
The tower on the west side of the church
The current church tower was originally a residential tower for the princes, like the south tower, but was badly damaged in the Seven Years' War in 1760 and then converted into a church tower and bell tower by adding two floors made of wood with copper cladding. These wooden parts burned after being bombarded again in the war in 1813. The Prussian military turned the remaining tower stump into a cannon bastion.
Jubilee!
The castle church congregation celebrated its 75th anniversary on August 25, 2024 with a celebratory service followed by a reception.
History
Around 1340, the Ascanian dukes had an "All Saints' Chapel" built at their castle and founded a collegiate monastery in it for liturgical service. Elector Friedrich the Wise had the palace with the chapel demolished and his new residential palace with a more spacious palace church built on the site. You can find out more about the story here.
Church for children
Every Sunday there is a children's service in the Wittenberg Castle Church, parallel to the adult service. Ms. Felicia Grauel is one of the volunteers for the children's service.