St William's Church
St William's is a Lutheran Protestant church set on the bank of the Ill, where the Quai des Bateliers and Quai des Pêcheurs meet. Gothic in origin, it surprises with its off-centre tower and an interior blending Gothic and Baroque. It is also a musical address, known for the Bach Passions performed there by the Saint-Guillaume choir since the late 19th century.
A friary born in the marshes
Around 1298, the knight Henri de Müllenheim founded a Williamite friary on marshy ground then outside the city walls. The church was consecrated in 1301 and completed in 1307; it is the only part of the friary still standing. In 1331 it became the parish of the boatmen's guild, close to the port and quays. That link with river life still explains many details of the building.
The boatmen's lopsided tower
The tower, built in 1667, is not aligned with the church: the porch follows the line of the street and the ground is unstable, hence the lopsided silhouette you notice from the quays. It is topped by a rooster and an anchor-shaped cross, a nod to the boatmen's guild. The best view is from the opposite bank of the Ill or from the nearby bridge, with the church reflected in the water.
Stained glass, rood screen and the Werd tomb
The great west window showing the Life of Christ dates from around 1310, and the nave windows from the late 15th century. Don't miss the red sandstone double tomb of Philip and Ulrich of Werd, landgraves of Alsace, carved in the 14th century. The rood screen dates from 1485, the 1656 pulpit rests on a pelican, and the organ by André Silbermann sits in a Baroque case from 1728. The church has been a listed historic monument since 1985.
A home for Bach's Passions
In 1885 the organist Ernest Münch founded the Saint-Guillaume choir, the Protestant counterpart of the cathedral choir. Since the late 19th century the church's acoustics have hosted Johann Sebastian Bach's Passions, now a Strasbourg tradition. If your stay coincides with a concert season, that is the best way to discover the place. Otherwise, a walk along the quays on the Krutenau side lets you admire it from outside.
Frequently asked questions
Where is St William's Church?
On the bank of the Ill, where the Quai des Bateliers and Quai des Pêcheurs meet, on the edge of the Krutenau district.
Why does its tower look crooked?
It is off-centre in relation to the church: the porch follows the street line and the ground, once marshland, is unstable.
Can you hear music there?
Yes, the church is known for the Bach Passions sung by the Saint-Guillaume choir. Check the current season's programme.
What is there to see nearby?
The Ill quays and the lively streets of the Krutenau, then the Grande Île across the water, with the Palais Rohan and the cathedral.
Wikimedia Commons — John Samuel
