The main part of the present parish was given to the monastery Neumuenster (Vicelin founder of this monastery) before 1139 AD from count Adolf II. The first church of Breitenberge was mentioned in 1164 AD by the name “Ichhorst” (yew).
The parish suffered under an extremely high tidal wave in 1521. The damage was so gigantic that the monastery had not sufficient strength for the reconstructions. On top of this the monastery of Bordesholm couldn’t defray the tax demands of Friedrich I., Duke of Holstein. He, the king of Denmark, wanted to keep his position against his nephew Christian II.
Therefore the monastery sold the landed property 1526 AD to commander-in-chief Johann Rantzau. This ancestor of the count dynasty became the protector of the parish.
The church was struck by a lightening and burned down on July 19,1756. For 12 years the congregation held their services in the makeshift repaired ruins. A new church was built further south on a little dune and in 1770 the ruins were torn down.
The foundation-stone of the present church was laid 1764. It was built by the builder Bardewiek from Glückstadt. The church was completed in 1767. The inauguration took place on August 7,1768.
On the original hand writing of the inauguration music somebody wrote: “Kapellmeister Telemann”. Experts are not sure if that means that Georg Philipp Telemann is the composer. Maybe it’s a co.-composition from the Old George Philipp Telemann (1681-1761) with his Grandson Georg Michel Telemann (1748-1831) . The handwriting is now in the “Nordelbisches Kirchen - Archiv" in Kiel/Germany.
The remarkable parish-library “Breitenberger Predigerbibliothek” is unique for the northern part of Germany. It is just prepared to be used for humanities and science. The oldest book is the “Schaedel’sche Weltchronik” from the end of the 15.th century. Also remarkable is the oeuvre of Martin Luther from the 16.th century.
The late baroque church was constructed in an extended octagon and covered with a mansard roof. In 1968 the church was renovated. With this renovation the white plaster was replaced by red brick.
The ridge turret was renewed in 1994 and covered with copper foil.
The wooden bell tower was built 1877. Just next to it you find the von Qualen family tombstone (1557).
The ministry of this parish started 1539. Under preservation of ancient monuments is the diagonal building of the rectory built 1581. In the rectory you find today the parish’s nursery. Already since the end of the seventeenth it wasn’t inhabited by the pastor.
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