Theodorskirche (Saint Theodore's Church), Basel

Saint Theodore's Church (Theodorskirche) is a Protestant Reformed church located in the Wettstein district of Basel. This Gothic gem is dedicated to Saint Theodore and boasts a rich history dating back to its first mention in a document from 1084.

Originally connected to the monastery of Saint Alban in the early 12th century, the church lies in the area of Niederbasel, a village once upstream of the Rhine from today’s Kleinbasel. At that time, the area was under the canon law jurisdiction of the Diocese of Constance but belonged to the Diocese of Basel in terms of fundamental rights. Archaeological finds reveal its deep historical roots: graves from the 8th century were discovered inside the church in 1947, while burial sites from the 11th century were uncovered outside in 1984 and 1993.

The construction of the Rhine bridge in 1225 brought significant changes. A portion of the community moved closer to the bridge, resulting in a decline in congregation numbers and church tax revenue. To address this, a daughter chapel, Saint Niklaus, was established near the bridge in 1255. During this time, Saint Theodore was explicitly identified as the patron saint of the mother church.

Musically, the church has a noteworthy organ legacy. In 1770, Johann Andreas Silbermann crafted an organ to replace an earlier work by Johann Friedrich Macrander. This organ was sold to Saint-Imier in 1916, with its case now residing in Saint Peter’s Church in Basel. The current organ, built in 1983 by Alfred and Daniel Kern of Strasbourg, features 37 stops on three manuals and a pedal, with mechanical action, continuing the church’s tradition of musical excellence.

Saint Theodore’s Church remains a significant historical and architectural landmark, preserving centuries of religious, cultural, and musical heritage in Basel.