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Succursal church - St. Brice of Tours at the Lindenbühel

A church in "Ratfeld" was first mentioned in 788. The present church was built around 1470, the church patron saint is St. Brice of Tours. Every year a market organised by the Radfeld Schützenkompanie (mountain infantry company) is held in his honour.

Kirche innen Radfeld | © Alpbachtal Tourismus | Horst Duftner

The St. Brice of Tours succursal church (baptistery) was first documented in 788, the present building is late Gothic. The church is built over a spring, orginally a baptismal fountain in front of the communion bench. The painting depicting Brice of Tours in front of St. Mary with Child dates back to the second half of the 18th century.

Folkoric background information:

Healing spring or rather baptismal fountain water, which is brought up with ladles. The consecration of this water always took place on 13th November with an unusual, unique liturgical procedure, in which the priest interrupted Mass after the consecration and blessed the water with the communion cup. The farmers fetched this Brice water from far away in so-called "Notburgakandeln" (pitchers) and sprinkled their fields with this blessed water.

Foodstuffs, such as bread, pastries, bacon and smoked meat were placed around the edge of the well and consecrated (consecration of Brice bread). The poor, who flocked in large numbers each received a portion of this Bread for the Soul. The ritual can be dated back to a much older death-cult.

In 1975, a comprehensive restoration was undertaken, with countless hours of unpaid work by the population. Over one million Austrian schillings were donated towards the renovation work.

As early as the 19th century the church in Radfeld had an Easter tomb.
The "Holy Sepulcre" was not erected during the war and in post-war years. In the spring of 1984, the decision was made to revive this custom. The "Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood" was founded and the "Holy Sepulchre" can be admired regularly. The Brice Water consecration festival is held annually on 13th November.

Opening hours
Always open
Contact
Filialkirche hl. Briccius
Pfarrprovisor Mag. Roland Frühauf
Dorfstraße 59
6240 Radfeld