Pfarrkirche Pichl

Pichl bei Wels, Oberösterreich, Österreich

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Main church of the parish of Pichl bei Wels. The parish cemetery and vicarage are adjacent.

Pichl parish church - the "Cathedral of the Innbach Valley"
The current name Pichl is derived from the earlier names Pühel and Pichel. Until well into the Middle Ages, Pichl was the mother parish of the now independent parishes of Gaspoltshofen, Offenhausen, Pennewang, Bachmanning and Steinerkirchen. The vicarage was located at the "Mair in Pfaffendorf", today's vicarage was the seat of the nobles of Pühel.
A church was built for the first time during the Frankish Christianisation period (9th century AD). A wooden church initially stood on the hill (Pühel), which was replaced by a Gothic church made of stone around 1300.
In 1729, the rear part was demolished and the church was largely rebuilt in Baroque style. The presbytery dates back to the Gothic church and was later baroqueised. The altarpiece was painted by Bartolomeo Altomonte in 1761.
On 12 February 1750, there was a fire in the church after a fire broke out shortly after midnight in the baker's house behind the presbytery (now the old Kürnerhaus). With the help of the parishioners, however, the church was completely rebuilt within a few months and equipped with a bell and two side altars.
The church was consecrated on 1 November 1750. By 1754, the high altar, pulpit and organ had been restored.
Today's onion dome with the clock tower was built in 1898. With a height of 56 metres, it is one of the highest church towers in the region.