After the introduction of the Reformation in 1568 until the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the cathedral was the seat of the Lutheran prince-bishops, then the Hochstift Verden was transformed into the Duchy of Verden under Swedish sovereignty. The cathedral chapter was dissolved in 1651. Today it houses the Protestant-Lutheran cathedral parish in Verden.
The current cathedral had various predecessor buildings. The Carolingian church, built in 814, became the seat of Bishop Walter in 849. After a fire, Bishop Amelung had a new wooden building constructed. Around 1000, Bishop Bernhard II built a stone tower in front of the wooden nave.
The present cathedral was built over many years and in various construction phases. The first stone early Romanesque basilica was built under Bishop Wigger (reign 1013-1031). The sandstone base of the tower still dates from this Ottonian church. It was consecrated to St. Mary and Cecilia in 1028.
In the 11th century, the Romanesque bell tower, which has been preserved today, was built from brick under Bishop Hermann (1149-1167). Work also began on the cruciform basilica, which was completed between 1181 and 1185. In 1268, the Romanesque brick basilica burned down, but was repaired and continued to be used. In 1290, under Bishop Konrad I, work began on the construction of a high Gothic hall church made of brick. A lack of money and breaks in construction meant that the building work was not completed until 1490.
The nave is a three-aisled hall with four bays and an ambulatory choir. This is probably the earliest ambulatory choir in German architecture. The transept is short and the crossing is square. The choir and nave walls are divided by large tracery windows and buttresses . The spacious and light interior is divided by cantoned round pillars with strong belt arches and thin services
Except for the central chancel window from 1913, all the windows were destroyed during the Second World War. In 1737, a hurricane destroyed the tall, slender spire, since when it has borne the current low tent copper roof. In 1829, an extensive renovation was carried out under the direction of master builder Leo Bergmann. The Renaissance and Baroque furnishings were removed and the cathedral was regothicized in the Romantic spirit.
The pulpit, staircase and cast iron choir screen are neo-Gothic. The Levite chair dates from the time of the consecration of the Gothic cathedral (around 1323). The funerary monuments are no longer in their original place. The large organ in the north gallery dates from 1968 and was built by the organ building company Hillebrand from Altwarmbüchen near Hanover. The choir organ was built in 1972 by the company Hoffmann Orgelbau.
The cloister dates from the 12th century. Six sculptures are striking. They are symbols of temperance, strength, hope, faith, love, wisdom and justice.
In the inner courtyard of the cathedral on the left, high up on the edge of the roof, is the Stone Man. The Stone Man is presumably a gargoyle that has lost its function.
When the original function of this figure was no longer precisely recognized, a legend arose that provided an explanation for this figure:
The legend of the Stone Man at Verden Cathedral:
Once upon a time, there was a sexton or rentmaster of the cathedral who is said to have embezzled the funds of this place of worship and squandered them shamefully. When he was supposed to give an account before the bishop and the cathedral chapter, he swore to the devil if he had done so. Thereupon a terrible howl and laughter arose three times around the cathedral, the evil one himself appeared, grabbed the sexton and wanted to drive him out through the cathedral wall. The devil's "prey" got stuck in the wall and turned to stone.
Journeymen and the Stone Man:
In earlier centuries, journeymen came to Verden on their travels to get work, accommodation and food. Before doing so, however, they had to go to Verden Cathedral with the head journeyman to see the Stone Man.
The journeymen were told that he was a thief who had wanted to enter the cathedral but was immediately turned to stone.
The journeymen were given a stamp in the travel book they carried with them to confirm that they had seen the Stone Man at Verden Cathedral.
This was always proof of their visit to Verden, which was already an important town at the time. At the same time, this story was a reminder to the foreign craftsmen to be honest.
South of the cathedral is the cathedral square (Grüne Straße). The park-like square was used as a cemetery from 800 to 1800. In 1815, 136 lime trees were planted in the form of avenues and it was used as a parade ground. The square took on its present appearance with the erection of the Uhlan monument, the Second Hanoverian Uhlan Regiment No. 14 was stationed in the Verden Holzmarkt barracks from 1873-1886. The bishop's monument is also interesting.
