St Thomas Church Leipzig

Johann Sebastian Bach was Thomaskantor from 1723 until his death in 1750, responsible for the music of Leipzig's main churches and for teaching at the attached school; he wrote much of his church music in that post, including the St Matthew Passion, first performed here. He was buried in another churchyard, and his presumed remains were moved to St Thomas in 1950. The Thomanerchor, a boys' choir documented from 1212, still sings motets on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons and cantatas at Sunday services, open to the public. A Bach museum stands across the square in a merchant's house.

History

A church stood here at least from the 12th century, and between 1212 and 1222 it became the church of the new Augustinian college of St Thomas founded by Margrave Dietrich of Meissen; in 1217 the minnesinger Heinrich von Morungen gave it a relic of St Thomas. The choir was rebuilt in Gothic style in 1355, and with wealth from the silver of the Ore Mountains the nave was replaced between 1482 and 1496 by the present late Gothic hall church, consecrated on 10 April 1496; Luther preached here at Pentecost in 1539, and the tower was first built in 1537 and rebuilt in 1702. Bach was Thomaskantor from 1723 until his death in 1750, Mozart played the organ in 1789, Richard Wagner was baptised here on 16 August 1813, and in 1950 Bach's remains were moved here from the St John Church (Wikipedia, St. Thomas Church, Leipzig).

The main sights

• Bach's grave - a slab in the chancel, the remains moved here in 1950.
• The Thomanerchor - a choir documented since 1212, singing weekly.
• The Bach museum - across the square, with manuscripts and instruments.
• The Bach monument - a 1908 statue outside the church.

When to go

Year-round; motets are sung on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, with cantatas at Sunday services. The Bachfest runs in June. Arrive early for seats.

Practical notes

Choir performances fill the church and seating is first-come. The choir does not sing during school holidays. The grave attribution is not fully certain.

Nearby

The Bach museum faces the church; the market square is east.

Key facts