Pfarrkirche zum Hl.Jakob

With its long history, the parish church is a special sight in Ottenschlag. The organ, which was renovated in 2011, also offers every church visitor an extraordinary experience with its special sound.

The church has the following history:

Ottenschlag became its own parish in 1340.

The parish church dedicated to St. Hippolytus, which was first mentioned in 1544 together with the appointment of the parish priest, was located outside the market square on the so-called Pöltenberg. Due to dilapidation, services in this church were discontinued in 1744. The presbytery was used as a cemetery chapel in 1870 after the churchyard was laid out in place of the old church.

The Church of St. James in the market square is said to have been built in the 15th century - the main walls date back to 1490.

In 1566, after a fire, the castle owner Melchior von Hohberg had the church extended with a three-sided choir.
Around 1600, an oratory was added above the sacristy. Pointed arch vaults with stucco ornamentation and simple windows were also built.
In 1696, the church burned down again and was partially rebuilt.

The roof of the church was renewed in 1908.
In 1911, the bells melted in a fire. During the necessary building work, the 3 altars were renovated, the tower was raised and a pointed copper roof was erected.
In 1975/76, the church was renovated inside and out.

The organ was built in 1986/87 by master organ builder Hartwig Späth. Fifteen sounding stops were built into the oak case.

The high altar, like the side altars, dates from the Baroque period after 1696 and was rebuilt in 1911.
The main picture shows the glorified church patron Saint James. The columned altar table and tabernacle date from 1911.
The right side altar shows a statue of the Sacred Heart in the central niche.

The left-hand central altar has a late Gothic, Baroque reworked figure of the Mother of God with the infant Jesus as its centerpiece.
The pulpit attached to the north wall is made of marbled wood and was created around 1830, using elements from the 17th century (pulpit roof). Opposite the pulpit is a depiction of the crucifixion from the beginning of the 18th century.
St. Florian and St. Apollonia. Also worth seeing are 2 red marble gravestones that were originally in the Hippolyt Church.
The Stations of the Cross on the parapet of the organ loft probably date from 1900.