The core of St. Anne's Church dates back to the beginning of the 13th century and thus to the Romanesque period.
Westen belonged to the diocese of Verden from time immemorial. The counts of Westen had built a castle, to which a chapel was probably also attached. However, the line of counts died out. In 1219, Bishop Yso of Verden bought the county. Villa Westen was first mentioned in the purchase contract. After a monastery courtyard was built in Westen, the old castle was probably used exclusively as a chapel.
Visitation records from 1585 provide the first information about church services in the village. The Westen chapel was a branch of the parish of Dörverden. It was only later that Westen became independent, received its own priest and the chapel was elevated to a church. The tower was probably built as a defensive tower. St. Annen is therefore one of the few churches in Lower Saxony with a round tower.
Westen belonged to the diocese of Verden from time immemorial. The counts of Westen had built a castle, to which a chapel was probably also attached. However, the line of counts died out. In 1219, Bishop Yso of Verden bought the county. Villa Westen was first mentioned in the purchase contract. After a monastery courtyard was built in Westen, the old castle was probably used exclusively as a chapel.
Visitation records from 1585 provide the first information about church services in the village. The Westen chapel was a branch of the parish of Dörverden. It was only later that Westen became independent, received its own priest and the chapel was elevated to a church. The tower was probably built as a defensive tower. St. Annen is therefore one of the few churches in Lower Saxony with a round tower.
Good to know
Author
Mittelweser-Touristik GmbH
Lange Straße 18
31582 Nienburg/Weser
Organization
