Copper tiles to replace zinc ones as tower of Marienkirche is renovated

Locals will have noticed the scaffolding on the tower of the Marienkirche in Unterägeri; this is as a result of renovation work currently under way there.

As Alfred Meier (photograph), who is responsible for the fabric of the church, explained, it has been noticed for some time how the onion dome at the top of the 30-metre tower had been adversely affected by the weather over the years, its red zinc tiles in a bad state, some coming loose or even falling off due to rusty nails. Then damp was noticed on the interior of the structure, too.

Meier further explained how the original tiles, now some one hundred years old, were all cut by hand to the necessary shape to enable them to fit perfectly on the dome. “It must have been very time-consuming and arduous task,” he said, adding how copper tiles were being used in renovation. One difference locals will notice when renovation is complete, is that the dome will not be painted red as before, the copper left to weather, and turn green, naturally.

Not that the work is confined to the dome itself, the surface of the tower is also being renovated, even though it was only done,  not very professionally, alas, ten years ago, rainwater not able to drain off as it should.

Of note, too, is that the current renovation is being done in cooperation with the Cantonal Department for the Preservation of Monuments and Historic Buildings, with Anke Köth, of this office, saying how, with regard to renovation, “as little as possible, as much as necessary” was being done to preserve it as it was.  

The church itself dates back to 1721 and, despite occasional alteration, it remains for the most part in its original form. As to the date of 1754 on the façade, this refers, it is thought, to the addition of a bell storey.

As to the cost of the renovation, this amounts to CHF 300,100, and if all goes according to plan, the newly renovated tower will be able to be admired without its scaffolding in two to three months’ time.