Catholic church and St Barbara’s Chapel
The history of the Catholic church in Schophoven is closely linked to the parish Church of Pier, the house of Müllenark and the old Barbara Chapel, which once stood opposite the current church. This chapel was built in the 16th century and was dedicated to St. Barbara. It belonged to the House of Müllenark, which administered the income from the chapel.
The Barbara Chapel was recognised as a public place of worship in 1806 during the French occupation and received permission from the archbishop to celebrate the first mess in Schophoven on 6 September 1829. Until then, the faithful from Schophoven and Viehöven had to go to the neighbouring village of Pier to attend a church service. Müllenark have had its own chapel. However, St Barbara’s Chapel was also the victim of theft and vandalism, as shown by a burglary in 1835 in which valuable church utensils were stolen. These crimes are common to all eras and church buildings.
In 1855, Schophoven, Viehöven and Müllenark were separated from the parish church of Pier and the chapel was elevated to a branch church. At the same time, Schophoven became an independent parish and the rector of the chapel, J. J. Hubert Wirtz (1805-1884), was appointed the first parish priest of Schophoven. A short time later, it was decided to demolish the now dilapidated chapel and build a new church. This church was realised according to the ideas of Pastor Wirtz and with the help of the district master builder Kriescher, who drew up the plans. The tender for the construction began in 1858 and was estimated at around 8500 thalers. The church is a three-aisled brick building in Neogothic style with a semi-circular apse. The altar and the pews were put out to public tender in 1860.
The church was blessed on 10 November 1860 and consecrated in 1868.
In October 1913, a tower clock was donated to the church. The heavy mechanical clockwork is still in the church tower. The clock has been operated electrically since the mid-2000s.
The church and the village were badly damaged during the Second World War; an entry in the church register reads ‘… from March 1945, the return migration to the 80% destroyed homeland began. Where the priest arrived on 10 May and regular church services began again. …’. The church was rebuild in 1954.
Karl-Heinz Haus was the last priest until 1974 in parish of Schophoven. In the years following, there was a joint pastor with Altdorf, Pier and Inden/Altdorf on an alternating basis.
From 2007, the merger of the GdG (community of parishes) Inden/Langerwehe began, to which St Barbara Schophoven initially also belonged. Since 1 January 2013, the parish of Schophoven has been part of the GdG Heilig Geist Jülich.
Today, the church building is not only used for religious purposes, it is also used for cultural events and as a venue for exhibitions and meetings.