St. John's Church Plön

St. John's Church in Plön, a modest place of worship dating back to 1685, is closely linked to the moving story of the "Black Trumpeter of Plön", Christian Gottlieb. After his Christian upbringing and baptism, this former slave attained the status of ducal "court and field trumpeter" under the protection of Bertram von Rantzau on Ascheberg. After his early death in 1690, he was the first to be buried in the central aisle of St. John's Church. The church itself was donated by Duke Hans Adolf for his planned "Johannis-Stadt" and, following a neo-Gothic overhaul in the 19th century, was completely renovated between 2008 and 2010. It was the first church north of the Elbe to be equipped with a "pulpit altar" for theological and architectural reasons, although this had to make way for a new organ in the 18th century. This was due to the special care given to the church choir in Plön, which required good instrumental accompaniment. St. John's Church Plön impresses with its handmade pews, which, apart from the colors, still look the same as they did at the beginning, including the characteristic, partially lockable doors in front of the rows of pews. Particularly noteworthy are the six large wall sconces, which were donated by Empress Auguste Viktoria as thanks for the education of her sons.