Biddersbach / Budersbach

Baptismal font recovered in 1969 from being used as a floor seal for a septic tank. Since 2021, this historic item has been given a place in front of the lower terrace of the clubhouse of the Heidelberg-Lobenfeld golf club. A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 1 March 2023) notes: "This baptismal font is attributed to the former church of Biddersbach. The village, then named "Budersbach", was first mentioned in 1458, when an existing pilgrimage church "St. Catherine" was reported. The associated market rights were transferred to the town of Neckargemünd in 1544, which still celebrates the Saint Catherines market today. The Bidderbach church was a parish church for the communities of Lobenfeld and Wimmersbach. The building fell into disrepair during the Reformation. The settlement of Bidderbach lost all importance. It is documented that the remains of the church were found on the grounds of the farm Biddersbacherhof, including this baptismal font. This relic, more than 500 years old, has been preserved. Special thanks go to the Theodor Barth family, the last agricultural tenants of this farm area. The previous lessee had installed the baptismal font as a floor seal when creating a septic tank. This was reversed by the Barth family in 1965 and the baptismal font was taken into their care. Since 2021, this historic item has been given a place in front of the lower terrace of the clubhouse of the Heidelberg-Lobenfeld golf club. Present location: Golfclub Heidelberg-Lobenfeld, Am Biddersbacher Hof, 74931 Lobbach, Germany; Biddersbach, lost church of Saint Catherine