O

Oppau - History

6. Those Pastors of Oppau and Edigheim

Christian discoveries were evidence, that in our home districts on

the Rhine already in the Fifth Century lived our Christian calendar,

remnant of the Romans population, introduced to slaves and poorer

people's districts from the Roman occupying forces

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period, that had possessed not any means, to take part generally in

the exodus before the powerful Germans onslaught. But still by the

forced establishment of Christianity under our Franconian and

Alemanni ancestors (in the 6th and 7th Centuries) that religious and

those converted Christian people were due to widespread presecution

itself in the Churches of the Towns (like in Mainz) not sure of their

lives. (Löbel, origin of the Dioceses Speyer.) From Mainz was sent

by the Bishop according to time and circumstances his religion for

the holding of worship services. In this restless time those priests

were not able to venture, to take up permanent places of residence on

the land. The first signs of Priests on the land in our region is

found in the account of the Conzil [Council] of 742, that was to take

place by the Apostle Boniface himself. Soon came around now also

those Priests and onto their village of activity, to be more

noticeable and recognizable. But from their first appearance in

light of the History we were dependent merely on as luck would have

it in good condition documents.

Since the beginning of the Thirteenth Century those Canons of Worms

as a legal successor of the Lorsch Monastery in possession of the

sovereign jurisdiction over the Churches in Oppau and Edigheim

(Chapter IV, 1) were paid partly from the rich income of the large

Tenths that were used by them and supervised religion, but often

neglected in a shameful manner their material obligations towards

Priest, Parish and Church.

Forever the prevailing Priests in Oppau were responsible for that

pastoral care also in the neighbouring village of Edigheim. (This

facility remained standing until in our time, 1911 or 1920.) But

also in that financial area was extended their various functions.

Particularly they took up in their office for the public welfare

commitments forever, bought for both communities those barrel animals

(Farren?, Boar and Ram) and to be preserved. For that he allowed

also twenty one head cattle pastoral wage free to let go onto the

Community pasture. Assuming more barrel animals were necessary, it

must have been supported by his expenses. For his diverse service

one provided him after a long dispute that use of eighty to ninety

acres mostly swampy fields and meadows and let him have for example

in 1539 an fourth of "Wingertfeld", that brought him now and then one

Ohm of Wine. As well he was supposed to receive a special twelve

fields for raising fruit Tenths, as well the Hay Tenth in both

boundaries, further the blood Tenth of Veal (the tenth penny of each

sold and a penny of each reared Calf) the same for Piglets, Lambs,

Duck and Geese; finally the small Tenth (fruit, garden and extensive

smaller field crops), then a cart load Wine from the Canons in Worms,

further natural produce from the local Estate (Corn and Capons),

quite a few wood rights from the well-to-do woods and some sacrifice

money.

That those Priests were also encumbered with more contributions; to

pay to those Canons [members of certain Roman Catholic Orders] in

Worms (a Malted Corn as a appreciation fee), and that Hub Court in

Edigheim, to those Ferrymen on the right Rhine (in 1539 just one

Malted Corn and two Loaf's of Bread) and to those Teutonic Knights,

or that is to say the German Estates in Oppau, that received as a tax

from the Parish yard among other things every year on Whitsum [the

seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy

Spirit at Penetcost (Acts 2).] "three wagons with manure". On

Martin's Day the Priest had to as a representative of the Holy Martin

of the Churches Jurors "to give with their spouses twain Imbs? (still

until 1798) and his Edigheim's Pastors children give pleasure with a

generous money donation. (Chapter Forty one, 5). 740

That most of the still in existence Church documents and records were

recorded from the Thirteenth to the Eighteenth Centuries, as those

religions repeatedly had to vie for and to fight for their revenue

and those pitiful salary of little jobs and had to be collected under

the most unfavorable conditions. Certain of these contributed to

that by the salary, that many of them freely made by their

obligations in the community until at the Reformation time, abandoned

the village and a Curate- or Plebeian [ordinary insignificant person]

job] (that is people priest) provided as a representative, that was

only one part of the revenue, that usually was allowed to be

collected at the most difficulty. That pair of preservd Latin

documents gave to us seldom the names of the Clergy. The first one

with names documentary described Pastor from Oppau was a Plebeian

named Wiepert, on the 30th of April, 1227 records gave evidence of a

property transfer to that Schönau Monastery. (Chapter IV.) In one

document from 1235 (Gudan Syll. No. 106) appeared a Plebeian Gerlacus

as a witness. On the 12th of March, 1237 no doubt Dean and Chapter

of the Worms Cathedral Chapter the Priest Vicar Gudelmann in Oppau

his Parish Benefice [the property attached to a church office, esp.

that bestowed on a cleric] the same. (Chapter IV.)

In 1356 further Priest Johann was there from Oppau, like his

parishioners from Edigheim to pay homage and aleegiance to their

Village Lord Knight Johann von Oberstein in Worms. Already in 1344

he appeared as a recorded witness in the Worms documents; as well

Hennelinus Dyethmares of Oppauwe in the year 1393. In 1421 to 1423

the Plebeian and later Priest Berthold Brugmann (the first with a

Family name) settled by wildness with the Monks of Schönau in a

jurisdiction dispute, since they wanted to curtail him as a owner of

his Tenth right. But for that ruling of the Bishop's Court in Worms

see Chapter IV.

On that Village Law Court Book for the period from 1467 to 1603 was

carried a number of Clergy to be exact. Priest Johannes Furt (1467

to 1482) leased from the community his Tenth right in Melm for twelve

years and was supposed to say on Martins Day, whether he wanted fruit

or money. He loaned out money for houses and provided in 1475 as

well a Curacy, "with that had a Priest to help from now on for the

place of worship and that Parish so much the better was provided" and

Elector Friedrich I maintained for the proprietor of the Curacy

(that however soon again was to disappear) share on the free

commonland for a horse, three cows, two pigs and six sheep. In 1482

Furt retired from the Parish Office and held until the end of one's

life because of as a Altarist of the Martins Church that Altar Curate

to U. L. F. (also that use of a special grant). His successor Konrad

Wigant, up to 1481 morning Masses in Edigheim, wre paid from the

morning Mass property in said place, which productiveness was

requested frequently from the prevailing Parish Master against or

without corresponding service, was in office in 1482 and 1483 here,

as a representative Pastor.

He was followed in 1489 by Parish Master Dietrich Furt, at his

assuming office "Meinster" (that is to say Meister [Master]) Deither

of Steinfurt, a few years later known as Dietrich Furt (likely was

given the surname after his birth village). Like his namesake

Johannes Furt he acquired himself by increase of his rights and

income an outstanding position in the ranks of his local colleagues.

He made sacrifices on the Agricultural work and sold immediately his

proceeds in Oppau for around sixty four Guilders per year. But he

probably did not reside or not for long here, following the example

of many other official Brothers and permitted the Parish service to

be

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performed by pathetic compensated Vicars or Curates, that themselves

turned seeking help from its Parish children. In 1496 here as a

representative works that Curate, or Altarists Heinricus and Jacobus

Gryffenstein (according to the levying list of the "Common Ranks

Pence").

In the Diocese of Worms at times in the two hundred and four villages

under two hundred twenty Parishes that Parish proprietor had a

Plebeian or Vicar in place and certainly with Episcopals

authorization dispensed corresponding taxes to the Bishop. Twelve

Plebeians were to copy and allowed themselves also to be

representatives. (See Eberhard, Those Worms Diocese at the End of

the Fifteenth Century.) That local Parish bore at times their

Proprietor according to the levying list of the "Common Ranks Pence"

from 1496 seventy six Guilders (today's money value approximately

three thousand five hundred Marks) and with it was that best served

in the entire Weinheim Deanery (probably in consideration of the

frequent Flood damages).

That dating from the same year (1496) records about those Church

inspections of the Worms Episcopal Parishes reported also in detail

about those at the time religious relationship here, however without

naming one's Clergy. Both Villages "Oppaw" and "Edickheim" were

still like in 888 shared by the Weinheim Deanery. The Old Martins

Church had a Altar resulting from devout donations for "Our Blessed

Lady" with a few Clergy, there was recommended for the fourteenth

Church Lay Judgeship. That Altar Curate was at times so substantial,

that according to the Village Law Court Book in the same year that

lay under contribution in the severest emergency was met by the

Community from this account a sum of one hundred Guilders able to be

received at four percent as a loan. The Bishop of Worms received

from the Community sixteen Schillings Heller and four Denare as a

appreciation fee. The few Parish Masters were not Village

residents. That general fine of the Community amounted to nine

ounces (approximately twenty Marks). In the upkeep of the Religious

building and that Church Administration that Worms Cathedral Chapter

shared as a Patronage Proprietor, that Church account and that

Community. Those Worms Masters had to maintain that Church together

with the Parish house from the top to the bottom , that "Engineers

Building" and the Churches decorations, for those parishioners that

steeple, the Bells, the rope [on the Bells], those church yard walls,

the leg bench and grain house. -- That Church ad Beatum Mariana

Virgenen in Edigheim was a branch of Oppau. They had an Altar ad

Sanket Annam with a Curate, the Oppau's Priest and Church Jurors were

allowed to select. As well was known still Altar ad Decem Millia

Martryrum and ad Sankt Nicolaum. Parishioners and Church account

managed that religious building. But that house of the Curate lay

already for al long year here in ashes and soot. Those Edigheim's

complained also, that the Oppau's Priest of the worship service in

Edigheim was allowed to be attended by the Oppau's Curate

inadequately and contrary to agreement and they needed to forced

oneself, to attend the Parish Church in Oppau.

Church Inspectors already in the Carolingian Period was to be brought

in. Like Karl the Great every year in all Districts sent out his

Empire's Emissary Counts afar, that in public sessions were supposed

to keep a watch on or build up the administrative work of his

officials, so also that Bishop took these measures for the

supervision of the religious subjects. They had kept in the

Carolingian Period a kind of Criminal Jurisdiction about those

Secular ones and those Counts and Empire Officials had to

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lend them all possible help of support in the process. Every year

they visited or rather those of their appointed religious Emissary

Judge or Emissary men usually three times to their Church Parish and

held at this opportuntiy everytime a stct Moral Court, which one

called that Emissary Judge or Emissary (Synod). Under oath obliged

so-called "Emissary Witnesses" or "Emissary Lay Assessors"had on

questions of all religious offenses (particularly regarding those

Sunday Celebrations), that they were to find out in their region, to

report to the Emissary Judge.

In the 1812 Book publication "Lorsch Principality" from Konrad Diehl

was published a document from the Fifteenth Century (from Würdtwein

Libertates et Solenenites Synod in Gensheim), in order to set forth,

how this Emissary Judge had been stopped in our region. That

document spoke in fact only of the Emissary in Gensheim, but that

Diocese state of mind was attested to also everywhere the same and

detailed accounts of the Old History, that was customary everywhere

almost the same social conventions. Hints in Oppau's records and

documents long preserved remnants showed from customs and uses, that

there the original Church Inspections took place in the same manner.

There for Oppau was an Emissary up to the introduction of the

Reformation of the Archdiocese of Weinheim or of which

representatives. "He was supposed to (according to the document)

come with nearly three men with nearly three horses and was supposed

to "not get lost or not know the way." His entourage was supposed

also consist of two parishioners and two school boys on two large

horses and several small ones (for the boys) or on two horses and a

donkey. But they rode behind on the edge of the road, not in the

middle of the road, not out of the road, in order to not damage the

those planted fields.

The Sandhofen Ferryman carry that party free of charge across the Old

Rhine. At the drop gate across the border ditches of the Rhine roads

took place the first festive reception. Here the Oppau's Parish

Bellringer or Church Servant had to stand, to be dressed in a white

cloth, in one hand holding a white Crosier, in the other hand a white

goblet with a measure of wine, to offer the Emissary [a person sent

on a special mission] men a honorary drink. He then had to

dutifully "take hold of the bridle of the horse of the Emissary and

lead it up to the Widdum", that is to say up to the Parish yard or up

onto that Parish property.

Here began now the obligations of the "Tenth men" of the Villages,

the representatives of the Worms Canons, there in their names the

Tenth was provided or had leased tht Tenth proceeds from them. "

Those Tenth Men were supposed to stand on the Widdum (before the

Vicarage) and were supposed to greet the Emissary men and bring them

at the conclusion to, what he had cooked (either in his dwelling or

in that Vicarage itself) "and he had expected to do and was enough to

do one's bit for a time for the others together with the Priest, the

seven Church Lay Judges, the Bellringer and the Blacksmith". At the

expense of the Tenth men now the Emissary men had to be fed enough

with his people and the Village Priest, those seven Church Lay Judges

(today's Factory Council or perhaps Presbyterians), the Church

Servant and the Blacksmith (due to looking after the horse) were

invited to the feast. (According to the Inspectors-report of 1496

was combined itself in other villages often still impressive round

tables for the Emissaries, for example in Beindersheim eighteen

persons, in Oggersheim seventeen and it seemed there many times to be

really large courses.)

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"It was known, that the Emissary men would remain here overnight, so

the Tenth men were supposed to spread straw up to the Vorgeboge (to

the Knee) and to give Oats up to the eyes and then Emissary men were

prepared a rustic bed with flax pools and a fire without smoke and on

another day after that one each Church Lay Judge was supposed to

come with a chicken and with a liter of Wine and then the Tenth men

were supposed to be met with satisfaction. When the Emissary also

remained over night, so the Tenth men had to look after and feed

fully the horses of the Emissary men, also one proper good, fresh

filled bed with double and clean bed sheets made up for them and for

one well-heated and illuminated room was provided by fire without

smoke." In the same way his entourage was supposed to be also fed.

On another day those Church Lay judges were to appear for the

Thanksgiving visit by the Tenth men and honored them for the

enjoyment of food with just one chicken and a liter of Wine. As was

reported above, still until 1798 each clergy man from Oppau was

obligated, in a similar way "to give snacks to his Church Lay Judges

with their lovely spouses on that Martin's Day in twain".

In the after Emissary (that is to say on the second day after Dahls

comments, perhaps also at the beginning of the third Emissary visit

in the year) those community people had to deliver for the Emissaries

that customary commission/fee, in order to praise that Emissary Court

and that subordination of the Archbishop. Only those Church Lay

Judges were not liable for contributions.

The Blacksmith of the Villages put in a appearance and brought "four

chiseled and perforated hearths", also four horseshoes without

holes. (This custom was found nearly everywhere for the festiveness

of the Emissary Courts.) The Bell ringer delivered up one Simmern?

of Oats. That community paid that due Emissary money, in 1496 for

example, as Oppau approximately thirty five obliged to pay "home"

(families) paid, sixteen Schillings heller and four pennies, that is

one hundred ninety six pennies (nearly a Guilder according to our

money, approximately fifty Marks purchasing power). Also the poorest

devil had to contribute one's mite to that, at the least one Heller

for that family (approximately twenty five pennies according to our

currency). The married head of the household paid nearly everywhere

double as much as that widowed or single person, the resident Trader

or Shopkeeper double as much as the other citizens, the Tenth men

more than double as much as the entire community. In the Leap Year

the Archbishop paid a visit himself (or one of his non-employed

Commissioners for that ) to that District and and was employed as a

Lay Emissary. "He came then in an entourage of almost five men and

almost five horses" and Tenth mem and Lay persons were obligated to

double work and contributions. Those gifts were to be consumed

mostly completely for the Emissaries food. "In all other things one

was supposed to keep, like was written."

At these Emissary Courts the State of Affairs of the Church and

Vicarage, its proper relationship, that building -- and present

contributions, that Office Administration, the religious and moral

condition and transgressions were to undergo a thorough examination.

Those Lay persons were however to be edified by the examination,

since it was to bring them right away new costs and contributions and

that Emissary witness like a spy of those sent ferreted out those

households and as a pleasure-lover of the fines, "were to commit

awful dishonesty". One was charged also in the end a general fine

for those offenses, that was to be reprimanded by the Emissary. It

was not

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anymore penalty money of one's crimes, unless one from the entire

community was to pay a contribution (that "Communal Emenda"), that

for Oppau in 1496 carried nine ounces (according to today's money

value was approximately twenty Marks). One wanted to seize those

earnings and justified that general demand for it, that for each a

small offense was to reprimanded.

That admonitions of the Pontifical Councils, was to give rise to not

any all too lavish little feasts and to come with not too much

enthusiasm , seem to be unheeded. With special emphasis was as well

(see Eberhardt, Diocese Worms at the end of the Fifteenth Century)

repeated pronounced, that the food and accommodations was supposed to

be good and plentiful. That food and drink was not sufficient for

the demands of the Emmissary men, so they were authorized to demand a

new meal time, until they were content, or Mass Book and communion

cup from the high Altar was to be taken down and to be put for one's

position by the host and to be allowed to be provided for that. (In

1496 took place in Mörsch and Beindersheim.) The Tenth men were then

obligated, to take up that property again. In Oggersheim was closed

that Church by the insufficient food and that interdict was imposed

upon that Vicarage.

According to observations in a Edigheim's account many communities

about that defended themselves against these visitations and allowed

those Master Inspectors to go away without having achieved anything.

Those rebellious Farmers demanded in 1525 in a few of their entries

that removal of the Emissary, since therein "many more of the selfish

than the poor were examined unhurt". Those Churches were not able to

stop these petitions for referendums. After the Council of Trent's

(in 1563) those old Emissary Court in the Catholic Regions were

generally given orders and against that the visitation of the Bishop

was established and where was found that entrance of the Reformation,

vanished at once the degenerate Emissary, in order to be replaced by

that modern Church Visitation in a dignified manner.

Still twice we were to give evidence for those in the eyes of the

Reformation Religion, that lived as a legitimate-Minister in the

Village and themselves performed their service. From 1519 to 1539

resided here as a independen t Minister resident Johannes Worstetter,

at the same time besides him Altarist Jörg Fenß as a Servant and

Beneficiary of the Altar Benefice, as well in Edigheim the giver of

Morning Mass Nicklas. The records were to say here and there of

the "Priest and his companions". But that Priest grade was becoming

less, not more fully lucrative following the frequent representatives

and still was to be appraised only at sisty six Guilders. The Priest

with the Edigheim community because of swine barrel keeping and blood

tenth in dispute recommended, that to be settled only by an agreement

after many nasty scenes on the 30th of March, 1539. We learn in the

document, that those Edigheim'er's from time immemorial, as that

community still had smaller numbers, had the right, to drive their

swine onto that field of the Oppau's, but without damage to the

entered fields. Following various troubles Knight Siegfried of

Oberstein now decided as a Church Advocate of Edigheim: "That

community had to lead their increasing herd under better control and

one or more Boars placed in a barrel itself, but nevertheless Johann

Worstetter and every following Priest paid from paid from that the

customary Tenth, the community paid for this every year two Guilders

for the Swine barrel."

In 1553 Parish man Johannes Gutwein refused to appear himself before

the local Village Court in order to justify himself because of

slander of some citizens, that that

745

secular Court did not have jurisdiction for him.

The Church Inspection report was for us of 1556 about that religious

and moral condition in the Palatinate in the period of transition of

the Catholicism to the Reformation (1544 to 1556) so faithfully

related, was to affect also in particular the Palatinate Village of

Oppau. No doubt was given away still in 1544 to the local citizen

Nichel Schäfer house and estate with all movables of that already

being expected to fully close down Augustine Monastery of Greater-

Frankenthal, in order to be able to conclude there under the still

remaining Monks its end free of care. But that religious life was in

many cases shattered, that parish had already for Centuries been

neglected in every respect. That benefice was often not legitimate

and occasionally not occupied at all. Those employed representatives

were mostly undiplomatic, unskilled, without theological education,

not leading an unreproachable life, incapable of administering those

divine sacraments and to preach God's word. They were held in the

poorest regard by the people and lived on a meagre diet from scraps,

that their out-of-town clients, that Worms Cathedral Chapter and

those Parish owners were to leave them.

In the Village Court book was many times in legal matters this period

nameless "Priest" (likely representative "people Priests" were

summoned, but again cancelled, possibly because their legal

responsibility stood in doubt. Those Church Lay Assessors

represented alone that legal side of the Parish office.

One report of the Worms Cathedral Chapter of 1544 reported, that the

Priest, so that Parish in Oppau was provided in the births and other

sacraments for a year were to have given on petition two Malted Oats

for a bonus. In the same year those Canons had sent off a Plebian

Johann Derstenoffer from Mutterstadt for the test of the Community of

Oppau; but proved himself so poor, that they had to give him soon

again his marching papers. About "his conduct, nature and behavior"

was supplied one continually such bad reports, that they engaged

their Secretary, to write to him, "he could neither in the year nor

for the period be kept still safely for the Priest in Oppau. Because

of this he killed his chance to be appointed for further need (that

is to say to look elsewhere in his surroundings)".

The ecclesiastical architecture was in a sorry state. Those Canons

refused themselves, to keep those religious buildings structurally

sound, since they no more charged for the monitoring of the Church

Accounts, much more deliberately was excluded from it. Such

religious system of decline was to show itself even in all villages

and gave the reason for the complete carrying out of the Reformation

in the Palatinate's lands in the second half of the Sixteenth

Century. When and where that new teaching was carried out and met

reception her, escapes our knowledge. Only little Manor relatives of

a few large property owners of nobility followed here their Lords and

remained still in the old beliefs. That old Martins Church heard

now Lutheran and Calvinistic preachings just according to the

theological beliefs of the prevailing Elector until finally that

reformed teachings were permanently established. But those Canons of

Worms still enjoyed also furthermore towards their old obligations

that by new clearing considerably increasing larger Tenths, had

however naturally not any influence more on the filling of the

Vicarage, that was no more carried out by the Church Council and

Church Lay Assessors, which then appointed also with the Priest

together that new

746

School Master in its office. That new Vicarage belonged no more to

the Neustadt Inspectors. The name of the Martin's Church was taken

over later (in 1774) by that new existing Catholic Church

A complete list of the Clergy could also now still not be made out.

The Teutonic Order of Knights indicated in 1580 a Priest Matherns.

In 1594 complained himself one of his unknown Successors, as he

wanted to supply those Canons his documented tun of jurisdiction Wine

in smaller Pfeddersheim's quality. In the jurisdiction book of 1591

that Vicarage that belonged to Neustadt was specified in detail that

income of the then Priest of Oppau, but not any Priest was named.

In 1601 was in office here Minister Johannes Schettner Lambsheimian,

born on the 13th of April, 1570 in Lambsheim. (See "Red Book", Church

History of the Palatinate by Biundo, or Gümbel.) Until 1608 Heinrich

Schranschel of Block, 1608, from April Jakob Voltz. Also he gave

according to the then custom his citizen name by Latinization of ones

first name, scholarly upstroke and called himself Jacobus Volzius.

He was the son of the Village Mayor Jakobus Volz in Studernheim. Son-

in-Law of the above mentioned Minister Schettner, that lived still

here in 1617 in retirement by him (Appraisal Book of 1617), probably

was already actively present here in 1592. Don Corduba, the

Commander of the Spanish seige troops before the Frankenthal Castle,

was captured on in his main accommodations in the neighbouring

Studernheim. Those Protestant Preachers were chased away everywhere

and then places were taken over by Catholics. On the 27th of

September, 1621 those Worms Canons made a note in their record

book "Master Stephen Langwasser was supplied for that Oppau Vicarage

jointly that Branch Edigheim, so it was granted free of charge" and

on the 1st of September, 1628: "Friedericus Weidig was supplied for

that Vicarage in Oppau, it was granted". Biundo regarded in his

Protestants' Church History of the Palatinate for that year, 1628 for

Oppau also a Reformed Pastor with the name of Konrad Weigel, that

then himself in the next years among those for his party becoming

more convenient War circumstances (triumphal march) Gustav Adolf was

able to hold his ground against his rivals. In the Netherlands

Reformed Church Book in Frankenthal appeared still as a Pastor in

Oppau from 1633 to 1636 (15th of January): "Jakob Bald, Pastor to

Oppa [Oppau] and Edicum [Edigheim]. As that War's fortune had again

to have declined the Catholics (after the battle by Nördlingen),

appeared those disorderly Imperial crowds on the Rhine by the order

of their Lords from the 14th of November, 1635 "All of Calvinists and

Lutherans Pastors together with their wifes, children and servants

passed from the land." Until the end of the long War we found only a

small amount of signs of more Pastors in the Village. Those village

ruins were cleared from year to year, the rest were overgrown, those

community lives were to become extinct fully. Church and Pastor that

were becoming useless, on the flat land had scarcely more a place.

The new Elector Karl Ludwig (1648 to 1680) placed after the

Westphalian Peace Agreement [ending the Thirty Years War] discipline

again here and permitted in 1652 thagt Reformed Church Order of

Friedrichs III to be published anew. Also his newly emerging

Community of Oppau was put (like his renewed Country) together from

migrating back Palatinate refugees and nearly half moved here from

France, Netherlands and Switzerland. The first Reformed Pastor of

the young community, Elias Beynon (Benonius), 1653 to 1656, was with

his at the same time working in

747

Oggersheim Father Elias Beynon from Biel had immigrated from

Switzerland. In the Community Accounts was now those expenses for

Bread and Wine for the Lord's Supper Ceremony of one High German and

ones French (Huguenot's) community was noted here.

His next or next successor but one Johann Göbele (Gebelinus), was

attested to for 1671 to 1675, came as well from Switzerland, from

Basel. That Netherland's Reformed Church Book in Frankenthal

indicated one Pastor in Oppau in 1683 with O.Z. One known Minister

without a name fled in 1689 from the advance of the enemy Arsonists

and in 1693 still had not returned. Perhaps it was there in 1697

known as Gabriel Göbele (Gebelinus), a relative of the above

mentioned Göbele. On the 16th of October in 1697 Minister "Goebelin"

of Oppau complained, since those Canons still had not supplied him

that appropriate cartload of this years salary Wine. That Neustadt

Upper Office authorized the then Village Mayor, to size so much from

the Cathedral Chapter Tenth crops and to allow nothing to be

administered, until the Minister was to be content for the sake of

his authority.

From 1697 until 1702 the Principal of the Latin School in Frankenthal

was, Jakob Cellarious (Keller), at the same time Minister in Oppau.

Frequently Principal and Teacher from the Secondary School moved into

the Vicarage; then Church and School were often combined most closely

on that. Cellarius lived in Frankenthal since just at this time no

Vicarage was found in Oppau and Canons and Church Council did not

want to approve an small house. (Minister Hepp was allowed to be in

this office in his Ministers description by mistake already in 1672

in Oppau.)

From 1700 on only the list of Ministers was able to be described

perfectly. From 1703 to 1710: N. Göbele (Gebelinus or Goebelin), a

true servant of his Lord. He came down with a prolonged sickness

that robbed him of that freedom of motion, he was allowed for years

to be carried nearly until the hour of his death every Sunday in a

chair from the Vicarage to his Village Church and into that Branch

Church in Edigheim, in order to be able to look after his

parishioners that were entrusted to him in both communities, at the

time of the Religious Reign of Terror under Elector Johann Wilhelm.

That Community Account of 1708 noted: That the Locksmith of

Frankenthal, Conrad N., since the Minister was not able to go anymore

into the Church because the building was not safe, but had allowed

himself to be carried back there, to serve for an hour, was paid

forty Kreutzers.

From 1712 until 1718: Johann Georg Wilckens, born on the 14th of May

in 1662 as the son of a Minister from Seckenheim, died in 1743 as a

Minister in Elmstein. From 1718 until 1725: Johann Philipp

Bernhardi, born in Bacharach, died as a second Minister in Sinsheim.

From 1725 (September 9th) until 1738: Johann Heinrich Grüner, born in

Basel, from 1707 until 1717 Head Principal in Neustadt, died as a

Minister in Oppau in 1738. From 1738 until 1749: Franz Helfenstein,

son of Minister Johann Heinrich Helfenstein in Alzey, ws his

successor in Alzey and died there in 1765.

From 1749 (August 8th) until 1792 (February 2nd): Karl Bernard

Wilhelmi, died after forty three years service as a Minister in Oppau

on the 22nd of February, 1792, 75 years old. His friend, the

Reformed School Master Johann Georg Koch in Edigheim, wrote down in

his Dairy, which hymn for the funeral at the house and beyond the

street was sung and which "Funeral text"was based on the Funeral

oration. Wilhelmi was the last Minister that planted his salary

field himself and for all the Vicarage good and proper

748

farm building was made use of in full agricultural work. One of his

daughters married the son of the farmer Wilhelm König that moved

here from Oggersheim and ended his days as a small farmer here. Like

his immediate predecessor Minister Wilhelmi also complained

continually about restrictions of the Tenth Harvest in Oppau. (See

Chapter 23, 2.) Also in Edigheim that Minister's wonderful income

and decline was at this time severely jeopardized. (Chapter VII.)

Frankenthal's and Oppau's religious men fought amongst themselves

like a Minister over their Catholic or Protestant branch or for their

will hand in stalls and fields for the blood Tenth and the small

Tenth.

Meanwhile comrades of those Canons in Worms were denied that

plentiful fertile large Tenth (there in Oppau for example in 1767 for

the auction was brought 130 Malts of Corn, 189 Malts of Barley, 263

Malts of Spelz and 120 Malts of Oats), but was concerned only about

repeated pressures and authoritarian treats and seizues around that

building of the Oppau Vicarage.

Repeatedly that Ecclesiastical Upper Office and Government were

beseeched in order to remedy the suffering, which "that community had

suffered up to now from the Cathedral Chapter". To the Cathedral

Chapter belonged building obligations also that maintenance of

the "inside of the Building"of the Church. Since 1742 after long

struggles and haggles that ruinous Church after a dreadful Flood

disaster again was restored, those Canons themselves refused the

appropriate approach, to procure also pulpit, Minister chair and

Communion plates and cups. In 1745 Minister Helfenstein complained,

he had over years and days standing on bare earth, needed to preach.

That community had now allowed to be put in that pulpit, that

Cathedral Chapter had after Upper official threats of the seizure of

their local Tenth crops now had to pay for the iron and Master

Blacksmith wage, but wanted to not to have to fork over that

Carpenter's sum "due to the Ministers costly obstinacy". Like then

the Worms Tenth was planted actually on authoritarian order, the

Catholic Village Mayor Johann Friedrich Riede put himself in the

middle before peacemaking and eked out the disputed amount of forty

eight hundred Guilders from his pouch. But still five years after

his death (in 1753) was brought action against his heirs by the

stingy Canons (almost only men from Palatinates Noble linages) for

that little credit. One threw before the heirs, that "the Village

Mayor had his Reformed, domineering wife (Judith, born Blümbott) be

allowed to favor that inside of the Building to be reinforced so

delicate and splendid, now they had to paid for that, that he had

allowed his wife to hold sway over himself." That community received

finally the official orders, to pay off directly to the Worms Tenth

and to meet that heirs of Riede.

Really so often those Worms men had to be reminded in most terrible

fashion about their rural obligations in Oppau. Also for the

restoration of the Church after the dreadful Flood disaster in 1784

they tried to be stingy and to get out of doing, only whatever they

were able to. In the highest indignation the Upper Village Mayor

from Oggersheim wrote in this case to that Upper Office in

Neustadt: "Disgrace for a Diocese, which in the Palatinate and

particularly from poor communities to take up so considerable

sinecure [a position that requires little or no work but usually

yields profit or honor], that such a small duty will take away, of

which one still was to get nevertheless with all rights."

In comparison those Canons sought inconsiderately, to report how

different instances,

749

was to expand their Tenth right by inclusion of the crops, those like

Millet, Tobacco, Beets or Potatoes (since 1720 here was cultivated

fieldwise) quite traditionally or in certain fields that belonged to

the small Tenth and stood on the meagre food receipt of the Ministers.

Minister Wilhelmi had to secure himself up to his living Emissary by

this adverse relationship his "need" in the most correct form of the

word. Only from the owning of barrels of beef and then with it was

combined troubles he was in his last years free due to corresponding

compensation.

At first under his successor in the Office, the Minister Christoph

Burkhard Borell (1792 to 1813) from Wachenheim in the Palatinate,

died here on the 14th of May, 1813 in one's old age of fifty six

years, was under the influence of the French Revolution with the out-

of-date miserable salary completely done away with. In the "Winter

of Plunder" 1794 was stabbed to death and French Revoluntionary

hordes consumed the latest Minister's marvelous pig barrels and

declared all Tenth rights to be put aside. Temporarily the Minister

was again forced to open that Boar keeping, but his right to the

corresponding blood Tenth was not more accepted. About every Tenth

piece he had to lodge complains. Festival stipend was no more allied

with his office. By volunteer, monthly by Presbyterian collected

contributions one looked to the "People's Teacher", which at times

was also known as the Minister, to be rewarded for all his service.

But time after time was wasted altogether this Charity for the

general need due to lack of money, the Minister advised the poorest

of the villages and lived by the public Charity. Even though one

placed by him French Officers into accommodations. He sought to help

himself with loans and for his Parish children borrowed in Oppau and

Edigheim. Finally he resorted to the usury bargaining of the Jewish

Zittig in Mannheim, then he time after time even had to mortgage his

entire household goods. After the lawful insertion of the French

Administration (in 1798) he discontinued under reservation in a

public community council session the Swine barrel. After a few years

began itself his relationship again to reorganize for the

reimbursements for his severe War burdens and that payment to be

given to one, when also little payment in cash. That in the

Sansculotte Period [In the French Revoution, a contemptuous

designation for a Republican of the poorer class, adopted by the

revolutionists as a designation of honor, as if synonymous

with "Patriot"] as a crop storeroom utilized Church was again

restored at the expense of the community and was given exclusively

its original purpose again. Emperor Napoleon dealt with now those

Churches like an Institution, that to him by its religious influence

was supposed to help secure his World domination. Tenth quarrels

between Farmers and Clergy bothered never again. Those Worms canons

had their fat benefice [the income from a property] in Oppau finally

lost and were eliminated from the community lives.

For the discontinuation of the Tenth contribution now that community

(Oppau till 1874, Edigheim till 1900) paid Protestant and Catholic

religious building expenses and additional payment for the Minister

stipend. (One tenth of the proceeds of the property taxes.) At the

end until today still is that Parish-Succession from the last

Century. Our Reformed Parish came from 1815 into the Reformed

Inspectorate in Freinsheim, with the Union in 1818 to the Deanery in

Frankenthal and in 1913 to the new Deanery in Ludwigshafen on the

Rhine.

750

1813 to 1814: Vicar Wilhelm Schmitt, born in 1780 in

Riga, died as a Minister in Ebertsheim on the 22nd of July, 1853.

During his local service period that Vicarage was filed completely

with French Soldiers sick with Typhus (fleeing from the battle by

Leipzig).

1814 to 1823: Minister Andreas Friedrich Ullmann, born February 28

1768 in Heidelberg as the son of the Marriage Court Counselor Karl

Theodor Ullmann, died as a Minister in Wilgartsweisen on the 12th of

January, 1858.

1824 to 1841: Daniel Friedrich Hepp, born on the 10th of October,

1790 in Otterberg as the son of the Minister Johann Adam Ludwig Hepp,

died in 1850 as the Minister in retirement in Freckenfeld.

1841 to 1848: Karl König, born on the 22nd of November in 1804 in Bad

Dürkheim as the son of the Shopkeeper Friedrich Jakob König, founded

in 1844 that local Church Library; in 1884 until 1876 Minister and

Religious Counselor in Speyer, of great merit for the Gustav-Adolf-

and Retscher-Society.

1848 to 1858: Karl Friedrich Stepp, born on the 9th of March, 1811 as

the son of the Minister Philipp Stepp in Meckenheim, died in 1897 as

a Minister in Lachen.

1858 (September 1) to 1859 (April 1) Minister Representative Johannes

Stiebinger from Albisheim.

1859 to 1865: Max Johann Rudolf Fraas, born on the 12th of April,

1824 as the son of the Shop Keeper and Manufacturer R. Fraas, in

Oberredwitz (Upper Franconia), finally Minister in Gerolsheim, died

after a severe, long sickness in Planegg on the 16th of August, 1868.

1865 (January 1 to April 1) Vicar Wilhelm Purpus from Mechtersheim.

1865 to 1877: Theodor Georg Fertsch born on the 17th of June, 1821 as

the son of the Leiningian Estate Minister Christian Fertsch in

Amorbach, died on the 1st of May, 1877 as a Minister in Oppau.

1877 to 1883: Wilhelm Philipp Herzog, born on the 6th of January,

1836 as the son of the Toll Offical Max Joseph Herzog in

Bliesdahlheim, died as a Minister in Fußgönheim on the 22nd of

Februaryu, 1900.

1883 to 1898: Nikolaus Oster, born on the 5th of July, 1842 in

Obernheim as the son of the Farmer N. Oster, died as a Minister in

Oppau on the 26th of April, 1898.

1898: Vicar W. Göbbel.

1898 to 1921: Friedrich August Walther, born on the 1st of

September , 1857 as the Teachers son in Waldfishbahn, 1921 to 1928

Minister in Kandel, 1928 in retirement, died in 1932 in Landau.

1905: Vicar Wambsganß in the "Leprosy time".

1921 to 1926: Hans Heinrich Stempel, born as the son of the Minister

Hermann Stempel in Steinwenden, on the 8th of July, 1894, 1926

Director of the Minister Seminars in Landau. Since 1945 Churches

President in Speyer.

1926 to 1931: Robert Klein, born on the 25th of June, 1889 in

Altleiningen, son of the Teacher Karl Heinrich Klein in said place,

since 1931 Minister of the Reformed community in Nürnberg.

1931 (February 1) until today: Friedrich Stoeppler, born on the 16th

of 1888, in Kirchheimbolanden as the son of the Legal Clerk August

Stoeppler (eight years, 1919 to 1927, in Managerial position formerly

with the Adult Education- and Adult Education Centre Service).

751

About 1945 Minister Helmut Bernius.

Next to the Vicarage stood since 1923 in Oppau a Curate Place.

As a Curate worked since in 1923 in Oppau:

1. Hermann Theodor Kuntz, 1923 - 1925.

2. Karl August Keil, 1925-1926.

3. Wilhelm Dambach, 1927.

4. Karl Landgraf, 1927-1928.

5. Johannes Bähr, 1928.

6. Karl johann Esselborn, 1928.

7. Hermann Munzinger, 1928-1929.

8. Dr. Er. Rapp, 1929- 1930.

9. Adolf Wenz, 1931-1933.

10. Hans Stephan, 1933-1934.

11. Heinrich Reichhold, 1934.

12. Otto Trautmann, 1934-1935.

13. Karl Heinrich Weil, 1935- 1936.

14. Hans Erich Imhof, June 1, 1936 to 1938.

15. Willy Gärtner, 1938.

In 1911 that Branch of Edigheim was raised to the independent Parish

and was already after a few years thanks to the effort of its Pastors

in possession of a Church and Manse. As a Minister in Edigheim

worked since 1911 to 1936: Adolf Schmitt, born on the 9th of August,

1869 as a Teachers son in Mackenbach, since 1935 in retirement in

Frankenthal.

Representative: Town Vicar Karl Heinrich Weil until March 30th, 1937.

About September 1, 1937 Minister Wenz, Teachers son from Haßloch,

formerly in Kirchheimbolanden.

About 1948 Minister Schenk.

Those in the Eighteenth Century still in small numbers Lutherans were

serviced by a Pastor of the Lutheran Pastors of Frankenthal. Shortly

before uniting with the Reformed in the year of 1818 they numbered in

Oppau sixty and in Edigheim fifty headsa.l They had to go to

Frankenthal into that Church and were nearly generally "married into

a mixed religion". That why their clergy had again nothing to do

here, like to officiate in seldom cases for Childrens births,

Weddings and Burials, which work to them "of course was to be paid".

Nevertheless the last Lutheran Minister Kräuter had been granted (his

predecessor Minister S.P.H. Gimbel had petitioned in 1785 about that

in vain) in consideration of his numerous families and on

recommendation of higher officials as a bonus payment from the

community of Edigheim the same as his Reformed and Catholic

Colleagues a citizens commonland in use and from the Community Bank

in Oppau yearly thirty seven Guilders.

Since the restoration of the Catholic Religion in the Palatinate

those few of the Catholics in Oppau after 1700 was pastored by the

Catholic Church in Oggersheim, but since 1735 in accordance with

their urgent request (Chapter IXL, 2) under approval of its Minister

Johannes Straub in Oggersheim was assigned the Vicarage of

Frankenthal, however only for the discharging of the casuist [a

Theologian, who resolves problems of conscience, duty, etc., often

with clever but false reasoning], those remaining

752

worship performances on Sunday- and Fest Days looked after those

Capulin Monks in Frankenthal up to the end of the Eighteenth Century,

here like in Edigheim under leadership of the prevailing Head

Ministers in Frankenthal.

According to the Catholic Church Book from Edigheim and Oppau was

officiated the same in this period for Births, Weddings and Burials

the following Fathers from Frankenthal.

1. Johannes Christophorus Grimminger in 1707 until November 11, 1728

(only in Edigheim).

2. Johannes Philippus Hohenstein from Hirschhorn, 1729 until February

26th, 1763, a valiant man, that like his immediate successor due to

the Churches decline in Edigheim with his Reformed Colleagues in

Oppau, the political Community of Edigheim and its religious subjects

in the same place continually went to Court.

3. Principal Mauritius Deboul, from the 27th of June, 1763 to the

21st of February, 1785. Until in his official time the Catholic

worship in Oppau was held in the so-called poor Church. With the

assistance of the Village Mayor L. Fr. Riede he urged forcefully and

successfully for the building of a new Catholic Church in Oppau.

4. Principal Philipp Reuter, 1785 to 1805; the last Minister of the

Frankenthal's, that administered to that Vicarage of Oppau-Edigheim.

French Revolutionary troops demolished the inner furnishings of the

new Church in 1794 and it was set up then as a Hospital.

On the 28th of November, 1796 the dwelling here Capulin Father

Deceroßus complained repeatedly to the local Village Mayor due to the

indecent (likely Military) billeting and pleaded for removal the same

from his confined dwelling.

In 1803 Edigheim and Oppau were again separated from Frankenthal and

was to be ministered by the Bishop of Mainz in a surprising manner as

a Branch Church to Studernheim. In 1805 the Minister of Culture,

Education and Church Affairs from Paris complied with the

unauthorized request ideas of the Edigheim'ers about one of their own

Clergy, but Oppau was declared as a Ministers site due to its larger

population and Edigheim as a Branch and appointed the Minister

Reinhard Negelé from Eich and Hamm here (in April 1805). The new

Clergy urged at once the reestablishment of the Vicarages and set up

also after fifteen years effort the building of a Catholic Vicarage.

(Chapter IXL, 2.) As a people's man he played also an important role

in the lives of the community; was for a long year lease holder of

the local field hunt; moved in 1826 as a Principal to Offenbach by

Landau.

Here followed him in the office until today those according to name

Clergy:

Karl Meisenzahl, 1827 to 1849; in the famine in 1847 exemplary in the

welfare service daily.

Jakob Köhler, 1850 to 1880, on the 20th of August 1860 died in

Aschaffenburg, where he hoped to find recovery from a severe illness.

Peter Rohrbacher, 1861 to 1869, 1870; closed the Catholic Vicarage.

Karl Hutmacher, 1871 to 1874, died on the 30th of September, 1874 and

buried here.

Dr. Friedrich Honoratus Krüll, March 26th, to July 31st, 1875. 1876

to 1878 dealt with the Vicarage, to provide a temporary clergy.

Ferdinand Döppelheuer, 1879 to June 30th, 1889, buried here.

Franz Bühler, January 1st, 1889 to 1911, District School Inspector

for the region of Frankenthal, died as a Minister in Offenbach.

753

Philipp Hartmüller, 1911 to 1921; then Minister in Geinsheim.

Anton Reichling, 1921 to 1936; then Minister in Landau.

Emil Flörchinger, about April 1st, 1936 until today.

Since 1920 the Vicarage in Edigheim was looked after by a Curate,

namely by:

1. Jakob Blum (July 26, 1920 to March 10, 1921), now Minister in

Büchelberg.

2. Joseph Georg Deck (March 10, 1921 to May 26, 1926), now Minister

in Niederwürzbach.

3. Karl Trauthwein (June 1, 1926 to June 30, 1928), now Minister in

Lautzkirchen.

4. Anton Schieß (July 14, 1928 to December 15, 1930), then Minister

in Elmstein.

5. Karl Ballof (January 1, 1931 to October 15, 1932), now Minister

in Oberndorf.

6. Karl Funk (October 16, 1932 to November 31, 1933), now Minister

in Großkarlbach.

7. Rudolf Dengel (January 16, 1934 to November 31, 1936), now

Minister in Neunkirchen.

8. Richard Fremgen (about December 1, 1936 until today.