Church of St. Thomas, Sevgein

History

First mentioned in 1340. patronage of St. Thomas. Indulgence letter from 1357. Consecration of a portable altar in 1411, suggesting a new building. The church was re-consecrated in 1449 and consecrated with three altars in 1491. The current sacristy dates back to the earlier choir. The church was completely rebuilt between 1687 and 1691, with only the choir remaining as a sacristy.

Description of the building

Today's church consists of a three-bay nave with two side chapels and a choir closed on three sides. The chapels are located directly next to the choir and rise through the main cornice up to the vault height of the nave. The lighting is provided by square windows below the main cornice. The portal is framed by Tuscan columns.The tower dates from the 14th century; it stands where the old and new choir meet. The octagonal pointed spire was added in 1706.The murals in the side chapels depict St. Anthony of Padua. The paintings on the vault and on the façade date from 1865.

Furnishings

Two-storey wooden high altar with the figures of St. Francis and Felix of Cantalice at the side. The altarpiece shows St. Thomas the Unbeliever. The tabernacle is a delicate rococo construction. The side altars stand against the back walls of the chapels and are stucco superstructures in the form of an edicule with wavy half-columns and pediments and leaf volutes. The pulpit is a square body made of walnut wood with unadorned panels. Dated 1696.Stained glass on two windows with the Bertogg and Capeder family lines.Framed picture in the choir with a Madonna and St. Dominic and Catherine of Siena, around 1700.
Chalices: Baroque chalices from 1756.
Paraments: White casula, 1730-1740.
Bells with Gothic inscriptions from the 14th century.
Tomb plaques with inscriptions Bertogg, Cabalzar.
There is a late Gothic carved altar in the Swiss National Museum.

(Text recorded by: Regiun Surselva)