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The secret of the Mehler time capsule: revealed in Hildesheim in 1966!
Restorer Dirk Zeyher opened a time capsule from 1966 in Hildesheim. It contains historical documents and photographs.
The secret of the Mehler time capsule: revealed in Hildesheim in 1966!
Today is an exciting day for the community in Mehle: The copper document capsule in the Mehle church tower was successfully opened. Dirk Zeyher, an experienced restorer from Hildesheim, took on the challenge of opening the capsule, although stuck rust initially delayed this. Under the eyes of Pastor Debora Becker and other guests, Zeyher was finally able to open the capsule, which contained some historical treasures from 1966. Below was a black and white photo of the original church tower and a detailed description of the repair work carried out at the time. There was also a newspaper article from August 25, 1966, which reported, among other things, the costs of re-roofing the church tower, which at that time amounted to around 16,400 marks. Hildesheim press informed that the article also mentioned a theft of hubcaps in Elze and outlined plans for a justice center in Hildesheim.
However, the traces of time also have their dark sides, and the renovation of the church tower is currently under particular pressure. The building has not been accessible since the summer after an architectural firm determined that security was not guaranteed. Restoration work is already in full swing, supported by LutherLAB, which aims to complete the work by the end of the year. A stonemason uses a jack to remove damaged stones, while specialist companies seal damaged windows and professionally dispose of pigeon droppings. As the owner, the Evangelical Church ensured that the project was carried out in accordance with monument protection. LutherLAB reports that financing, however, represents a challenge: In addition to grants from the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe and the NRW Foundation, which provide a total of 25,000 euros, there remains a financing gap of around 3,700 euros that must be covered by LutherLAB itself. The association is therefore calling for support through donations.
The future in sight
Interesting ideas have already emerged with a view to the future capsule that is to be created after the roof renovations. These should include current photos, an updated church chronicle, a daily newspaper and euro coins. Pastor Becker highlights that there may no longer be any cash in the future, which could be an exciting aspect for the coming generation. Hildesheim press In this context, speaks of the importance that the community in Mehle continues to live and preserve this history.
Church financing in focus
The financial challenges presented by this project reflect the general difficulties faced by many churches in Germany. According to an article in the bpb Churches need money for basic activities, including building maintenance and upkeep. The church finances are designed to fulfill the mission of the church, with the most important source of income being church tax revenue. But the decline in membership could put the future of financial support in question. In addition, the future financial obligations, especially the provision of pastors and church officials, are also high.
With all of these aspects, it is clear that the community in Mehle is facing an exciting time, not only in terms of the restoration of the church tower, but also in the way it preserves its history and is financially positioned. A celebration is planned to mark the reopening of the former church in order to revive events and courses, which should provide further space for commitment and initiatives.