Oldest Church in the Kempen Region is The Chapel of St. Peter
On Sunday, September 21st, an interdenominational bike tour from Anrath to St. Peter's Chapel near Kempen is scheduled to take place. This historical event is organised by the Protestant Church Anrath-Vorst and the Catholic parishes St. Johannes Anrath and St. Godehard Vorst.
Before the separation, the residents of Anrath and Vorst attended mass at St. Peter's Chapel, as Anrath only had a small wooden church. Established around 1010, St. Peter's Chapel, the oldest church in the Kempen region, was subsequently separated from the Anrath parish.
The tour will begin at 2 pm from the Catholic Church in Anrath, with participants from Vorst being picked up at the Rewe parking lot (package station), Kempener Straße, around 2:25 pm. The group will then make their way to St. Peter's Chapel, following paths like the "Gelles-Kirchweg" from Gelleshof in Kehn towards St. Peter, "Am Anrather Weg" in St. Peter, and "St.-Peter-Allee" in Kempen, which hint at this historical connection.
During the tour, each participant is responsible for themselves. After the short service held in the chapel, everyone will gather for a picnic under the linden trees in front of the chapel (participants should bring their own drinks and food). The return journey to Vorst or Anrath will be at a leisurely pace.
For more information about the bike tour, contact Pastor Martin Gohlke at 02156 40845 or by email at [email protected]. Another legend suggests that Charlemagne may have been born at St. Peter's Chapel, and the construction of the chapel is believed to date back to a vow made by Charlemagne. In the Middle Ages, St. Peter's Chapel belonged to the Great Honschaft Vorst, one of five administrative units in the Amt Kempen.
Join this unique interdenominational bike tour to explore the rich history and beautiful surroundings of St. Peter's Chapel and strengthen the bond between the communities of Anrath and Vorst.
