How the partnership began and has grown

Not long after the second world war ended two people, Marga Kiesel and Avril Norton, met at a Youth Meeting in Bavaria. They became good friends and were committed to reconciliation between Britain and Germany. Their determination, drive, prayer and faithfulness made the Link possible.

The first visit from Langwasser to Ludlow was in 1989, when 61 members of the Kantorei Langwasser choir came to Ludlow for a week, staying with families in the parish. It was a happy time, with outings, picnics, concerts and a ceilidh.

A party from Ludlow visited Langwasser the following year. Since then there have been many exchange visits, big and small. People from the Methodist, United Reformed and Roman Catholic churches have gone with us from Ludlow, making the visits really ecumenical. Many of the visitors and hosts have become friends, and make private visits to each other, apart from the “official” exchanges.

Our most recent visit to Langwasser was in 2018. In 2019 we welcomed a party from Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche (Paul Gerhardt Church) in the first week of June, including a shared Eucharist on Pentecost Sunday. Both visits were great successes, with much laughter and joy, and a renewed determination to keep the link alive and flourishing.

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What is the partnership?

It’s a commitment to unity between our two parishes of St Laurence and Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche, recognising our common Christian heritage which transcends our differences. As the Partnership Banner says, “For we are fellow workers for Christ” – “Denn wir sind Gottes Mitarbeiter”.

The partnership is not confined to our two parishes. People from other churches in both Ludlow and Langwasser have joined in our visits. The partnership is also part of the wider relations between Hereford Diocese and the Evangelical-Lutheran church in Nuremberg. For information on the Hereford-Nuremberg Partnership, click here.

Ludlow Deanery is also seeking to develop a link with the deanery of Neustadt an der Aisch, which lies to the north-west of the city of Nuremberg. We have a special link with the Neustadt Deanery in Pfrin. Brigitte Malik. Brigitte is now a minister in Neustadt, but worked for 4 years with us in Ludlow, based at St Giles, Ludford.

Fruits of the partnership

Over the years we have learned much about what we have in common, even when we do things slightly differently. For example,

• Liturgy and forms of worship often feel familiar; for instance, we have borrowed hymns like ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation’ from the Lutheran church. But there are different emphases on what is important.
• Our churches’ place in wider society has some differences, such as their more formal role in social provision, and the “Kirchensteuer”, or church tax, which their church members pay.
• The structures of parish, deanery and diocese look familiar, although detail varies.
• Both church buildings are built in conventional styles, but St Laurence dates back to the 12th century and Paul Gerhardt church was built in the 1960s.

But most of all, we have learned to grow together in love and friendship.

For more information on the partnership, contact Andrea or Colin Weston, by email or telephone 01568 770147.

For more information about the Lutheran Church in Langwasser, please visit their website.

Vater unser im Himmel,
geheiligt werde dein Name,
dein Reich komme,
dein Wille geschehe,
wie im Himmel, so auf Erden.
Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute,
und vergib uns unsere Schuld,
wie auch wir vergeben unsere Schuldigern.
Und führe uns nicht in Versuchung,
sondern erlöse uns von dem Bösen.
Denn dein ist das Reich
und die Kraft und die Herrlichkeit
in Ewigkeit.
Amen.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sias we forgive thos
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.