The Church St. Wendalinus is located in the newly established parish “Am Haardtkopf St. Christophorus” as of January 1, 2022, which is led by Pastor Markus Weilhammer (office in Monzelfeld).
Among the churches that held or still hold the rank of a parish church in our pastoral area, St. Wendalinus is probably the smallest in the village of Rapperath (about 450 inhabitants), which belongs to the unified community of Morbach and is traversed by the Dhron. Measuring just 14.80 m long and 8 m wide, the building constructed in 1765 is compact. However, due to its compact size and the loving, successful painting, we find this church particularly cozy!
St. Wendalinus is a baroque hall church with a three-sided choir closure and a shingled bell tower, a building type that can be found relatively often in our area. The pulpit from 1733, mentioned in the “Cultural Monuments of the Bernkastel District” from 1935, is no longer present, nor does the former high altar with pairs of columns, rococo capitals, and two paintings seem to have survived. The current altar, which houses a figure of Mary, is probably the former side altar.
In the altar area, there are figures of saints Nicholas, Maternus, and Joseph, as well as others in the nave and above the church's entrance portal, including a depiction of the church patron Wendalinus (memorial day: October 20), who was active as a missionary in the Diocese of Trier in the 6th century and whose grave is located in St. Wendel. In 1990, the parish church received a small pipe organ with 6 registers on one manual and pedal, which fits wonderfully into the space both acoustically and with its veil boards designed in the baroque style.
As early as 1282, a chapel initially dedicated to James the Elder is documented for Rapperath, and around the year 1500, the predecessor building of the current structure was erected. Until its elevation to an independent parish in 1853, Rapperath was a branch of Bischofsdhron.
