GERMANY: German church reaches its final destination in one piece after 12km, week-long road trip atop flatbed truck

Following months of preparations, the local church of the eastern German town of Heuersdorf has arrived in one piece atop a trailer in a neighbouring town 12 kilometres away. The people of Heuersdorf have lost their village but saved their church. For years they protested unsuccessfully against their homes being demolished to make way for an open pit but the 300 residents must move to allow miners to get at the coal beneath their houses, a court ruled in 2005. Neighboring Borna has agreed to provide sanctuary to their 700-year-old church. Last week, a truck with its 1,000-tonne load trundled along on the week-long, 12-km (7 1/2 mile) trek to its new home. "The transport is fascinating," said one former resident of Heuersdorf, Helga Mueller, who was close to tears. "I used to do volunteer work in the church and I often went to church there. It's very moving, the whole thing really affects you," Mueller said. On Wednesday (October 31), the Emmaus church arrived at its final destination in Borna where it will remain next to the already existing local church. Saxony state premier Georg Milbradt was confident that after 80 percent of the former residents of Heuersdorf had agreed to a relocation deal, "the remaining 20 percent -- the 60 people who remain in the town -- will find a new home in the vicinity." "Preparations have been made," Milbradt said. Complete with bells and altar, the church move will cost mining firm Mibrag more than 3 million euros (4 million US dollars).

ITN Source | November 5, 2007

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