Catholic parish church of Sogn Andriu (St. Andrew), Rueun

History of the church

First documented mention around 831. No recognizable elements of the early medieval structure remain, Romanesque tower, 12th century. The altar consecrations took place in 1449 and 1465. The patronage of St. Andrew is first mentioned in a document in 1449. The roof truss was destroyed in the village fire of 1834.

Description of the building

The east-facing, baroque building consists of a three-bay nave without side chapels and the recessed, square choir. Above the choir is a ribless cross vault, above the nave a barrel vault divided by straps. Light is provided by square windows below the cornice. The choir is flanked by a sacristy, the northern one with a cross vault, 1633.The Romanesque tower stands on the north wall of the choir, is unplastered and shows careful corner bracing made of large ashlars; it is divided into three storeys by blind niches, which end with a four-part frieze of small arches. There are round-arched windows in the blinds. The top floor was apparently added later, perhaps in the early 16th century.

Furnishings

The altars: The superstructures are made of stucco and date from the time of construction (around 1633). The carved antependium with the Last Supper (after Lionardo) is by the Milan-trained carver Tschuor von Ruis and was created between 1850-1860.Worship objects: Baroque monstrance with Deflorin coat of arms, 1681.Paraments: A casula made of red gold brocade, around 1700. A casula made of cherry-red silk damask, around 1730.Bells: With inscriptions, 1929.Tomb plaques: A heraldic wall epitaph on the west front. At the corner of the cemetery is the ossuary with a late Gothic chamfered, pointed-arched entrance and coarse oculus.

(Text recorded by: Regiun Surselva)