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The village - whose first historical document mention Mesendorf in 1289 - lies 4 km south west of Crit in Rupea county. In 1469 the village was destroyed in a fire and again in 1641, 1755 and 1804.
The fortified church, situated east of the village, was first built in the 14th century and was a very simple early Gothic building. A high sandstone wall, a defence corridor and two three-storied defence towers as well as a steep pyramidal roof were built in 1495. Restoration works were begun in 1701, and in 1888 parts of the circular outside wall and of the inside wall tower were taken down. In 1958 the south west tower and the east side of the circular wall were also taken down due to danger of collapse.
The triptych altar has two mobile and two fixed wings, made after the model of an old altar. The altar panels represent biblical scenes. In 1923 Hans Hermann renovated the altar and painted four new images representing four apostles. The 1765 organ was replaced by a new one in 1923.
Trust work during 2008
Facade repair, restoration and painting was completed on houses no 42, 36, 20, the evangelical parish house and the orthodox parish house. The dance circle was also repaired.
Trust work during 2007
More work on the church was completed, this time on the roof and on the fortification tower.
Trust work during 2006
The church has had more repair work completed on one of its fortification towers.
Trust work during 2005
Two houses on the top right hand side of the village have had massive restoration work instigated in their interior.
Trust work during 2004
Much of the building work this year has been taken up on the church. The ring wall was leaning over perilously and has been shored up and the cracks stitched. We have restored 14 buttresses, sorted out the damp problem, repaired all four entrances (walls, floors, doorways and steps) and made interior and exterior repairs to the church walls (here, there were 6 fractures mainly on the north wall). The walls of the church tower were also consolidated with stitching. We have mended the roof of the neighbouring priest's house, re-roofed the bread oven and completed a lot of pointing on the church. We have done this work in tandem with the exiled Saxon community (the HOG).
We are working to turn house no 53 into a guesthouse. This was in terrible condition and has involved big structural repairs. Much work has been done also on the outlaying barns of this house, where there is an 18th century apple press and oven. Our conservation trainer from England, Henry Rumbold, has masterminded this project and taught people on site.
Our chief architect, Gabriel Lambescu, gave a talk on the work of the MET to the Mesendorf Saxon emigre communityat their annual gathering in the village in August.
Trust work during 2003
We have restored houses no 100, 54 and 55.
We have fully equipped a carpentry work shop in the village.
The tanzplatz in the centre of the village has had all its cement taken off and the whole circle has been newly rendered. A gate, found in the village, has been replaced into the circle.
Trust work during 2002
Two house façades completed (nos. 75 and 89).
Work continued and completed on all 4 facades of the large Priest’s House.
Heinz-Georg Doerner, the head of the Mesendorf HOG (Heimat Ortsgemeinschaft) has approached MET, proposing co-operation in village restoration projects starting with the dancing circle. As well as being a useful working partner for the present, the HOG will remain active in the village after end of project. This is an encouraging sign for the future. (HOG is the club formed by emigrated Saxons. Each village has one, but some are more active than others. The Mesendorf HOG is comparatively active.) |
