Krewinkeler Kapelle

The first Krewinkel chapel stood opposite the current chapel. It was destroyed in World War I and World War II. It was rebuilt in 1949.

The Chapel of Saint Barbara

The first chapel in Krewinkel stood opposite the present chapel under a mighty willow tree on Düren-Eupener Street, an important trade route through Schevenhütte to Fleuth. It was probably established around 1697, simultaneously with the parish foundations of Schevenhütte and Vicht. At that time, part of Krewinkel belonged to the parish of Gressenich, while the other part belonged to the Wehrmeisterei Jülich (parish of Schevenhütte), with most residents being parishioners of Gressenich.

After the dilapidated old chapel was demolished in 1914, the population was able to build a new chapel. This was consecrated on July 25, 1915, by Vicar Wilhelm Brathe to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, as many Krewinkeler worked in mining. The chapel was destroyed in World War II and rebuilt only in 1949.

When the parish church of St. Markus was completed in 1806, the Krewinkeler were supposed to be transferred to Mausbach. Heinrich Hoffmann reports on the decision in his "Legends from the Inde Region":

"The little village of Krewinkel lies between Gressenich and Mausbach, a bit off the path. […] A part of the inhabitants wanted […], since the way to Mausbach was shorter and better, to join the local parish there. This caused great discord among the residents. They deliberated back and forth. Finally, it was decided to choose two runners who would stand at the chapel in Krewinkel and from there, one over Mausbach and the other over Gressenich, would have a race. Whoever of the runners reached the chapel in Krewinkel first, their party would win. Thus, Krewinkel came to the parish of Mausbach.”