Parish church of St Mauritius, Zermatt

The first historical record of the parish church of St Mauritius dates from 1285. It can be assumed that back then it was a small and modest place of worship. Over the following centuries, the church was enlarged and renovated several times. The predecessor of the current parish church was probably built in 1587 in the so-called Italian style. Originally the parish church had three Gothic altars. Following the custom at the time, these were replaced by baroque altars in the 18th century. On the south side of the church were the cemetery and the charnel house from 1651.

The new church from 1913
Initially the people of Zermatt did not want a new church at all. But a local vote on 13 November 1910 paved the way for an ambitious new scheme. The architect Adolf Gaudy from Rorschach drew up plans, and on 6 June 1916, Monsignor Joseph Mariétan, Bishop of Bethlehem and Abbot of St. Maurice, consecrated the new church. Ever since, the parish has celebrated the anniversary of the inauguration of the church on the first Sunday in May. The church was painted in 1920, and the clock installed in the tower in 1925. Inauguration of the big organ in 1926 and three new bells in 1932 marked the end of construction. Today’s church stands further east than its predecessors.

Complete renovation in 1980
To celebrate the 700th anniversary of the parish in 1980, the parish priest, Eduard Imhof, undertook a complete renovation of the church.  Changes to the interior included removing confessionals and double benches from the aisles, taking away the pulpit, adding a celebration altar, replacing the Stations of the Cross and converting the baptismal chapel into a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The ceilings of the choir and vaulted nave were also painted. The painting on the ceiling in the centre of the nave, “Noah’s ark”, is by the artist Paolo Parente from Florence and also dates from 1980.

Valuable artefacts
The church of St Mauritius is listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of Regional Significance because of its altars and baptismal font.

• Photo subject: view of the Matterhorn from the entrance steps
• Available in the church: art guide to the church
• To read on site: information about the ceiling painting, “Noah’s Ark”, by Paolo Parente
• Small room for memorial candles
• Popular church for weddings
• Sung masses with choir (approx. every other Sunday and on feast days)