Oschersleben

The entry for this church in Oschersleben Stadt an der Bode [https://www.oscherslebenbode.de/Home/Bürger-Stadt/Bürger/Verwaltungsdienstleistungen/Evangelische-Kirche-St-Nicolai-Oschersleben.php?object=tx,2962.1.1&ModID=9&FID=2962.127.1&NavID=2962.20&La=1] [accessed 26 April 2024] mentions a baptismal font made of sandstone in 1661 that was retained from the previous church, and that the font in use is modern, neo-Gothic. The entry for this church in the German Wikipedia [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicolai_(Oschersleben)] [accessed 26 April 2024] mentions both fonts as well ["Noch aus der Vorgängerkirche stammt die 1661 aus Sandstein gefertigte Taufe, welche sich in der nördlichen Apsis, der sogenannten Taufkapelle, befindet. Sie ist mit plastischem figürlichen Dekor geschmückt und wurde von den Dammleuten gestiftet. Im Zuge der neogotischen Gestaltung der Kirche wurde auch ein neuer Taufstein im neogotischen Stil angeschafft. Dieser befindet sich in der Vierung und ist im Gegensatz zum älteren Taufstein noch in regelmäßiger Benutzung"].
A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 18 February 2024) gives the following summary from two articles in the Voksstimme: 25 October 2011 edition [https://www.volksstimme.de/lokal/oschersleben/kleinod-vor-350-jahren-gestiftet-445769] [accessed 26 April 2024] and Julia Angelov's 3 Novembe 2011 [https://www.volksstimme.de/lokal/wanzleben/jubel-in-der-marktkirche-taufstein-ist-zuruckgekehrt-1794135] [accessed 26 April 2024]: "The baptismal font a Oschersleben, a gem from the Baroque period, was donated 350 years ago. Now the baptismal font returns to the nave of the church of St. Nicolai. The community celebrates its return with a magnificent service on October 31st, Reformation Day. The baptismal font will then be given a place visible to all visitors near the gravestone of Samuel Gelhudius, who successfully led the reconstruction of the market church from 1660 onwards.
The baroque baptismal font has an eventful history. Just a few years after the end of the Thirty Years' War, in 1659, Oschersleben was hit by the worst catastrophe in its history. Of the 265 houses, 206 burned down, along with the school, rectory and the Nicolaikirche, whose interior was completely destroyed. Despite the indescribable personal hardship, the citizens did everything they could to quickly rebuild the church. Samuel Gelhudius was appointed to Oschersleben in 1660 as pastor primarius. He made a significant contribution to ensuring that services could be held in the church again as early as 1660. He also contributed to the reconstruction of the rectory in 1661. The inscription on a beam remembers him, and also two othe Oschersleber church fathers, as builder. A part of the city, the Dammvorstadt, was spared from the fire. In addition to their commitment to alleviating the suffering of their fellow citizens, in 1661 this district donated a valuable baptismal font out of gratitude, which in its baroque splendor is a sign of the great willingness to sacrifice of the "Dammleute". It bears the dedication: "To the glory of God, gentlemen gave this baptismal font here, Anno 1661, the 1st Martii." After the current Nicolaikirche was built in 1881, the baroque baptismal font no longer fit the style of the neo-Gothic hall church. Therefore it was moved to the baptismal chapel and was used there as a baptismal font for some decades. It is now returning to the nave for the 350th anniversary of its foundation."