Pfarrkirche Freinberg

Compared to the other parishes in our area, Freinberg parish is a young parish. The parish and spiritual life of our area is shaped by the respective Bishop of Passau. After the Innviertel became part of Austria in 1779 following the Peace of Teschen and the Diocese of Linz was separated from Passau, Freinberg was declared an independent parish. The foundation was established in 1784. Freinberg was assigned its own pastor, named Staudinger, by episcopal decree from Linz. However, this pastor never took up his position in Freinberg. Thereupon, in 1786, Pastor Johann Michael Pillmann, a former Cistercian from Baumgartenberg Monastery, was appointed pastor. Pastor Pillmann was very prudent and began building a rectory. A new church also had to be built for the wooden filial church that had burned down in 1784. Pastor Pillmann faced considerable difficulties during the construction of the church; he complained about the lack of generosity in donations from the Freinberg parish population. A new cemetery was consecrated by the dean from Kopfing and also used as such. Reports speak of this consecration having severed the last tie with the parish of Innstadt - St. Severin. From this point on, burials took place in Freinberg. From 1786 onwards, all baptisms, weddings, and deaths were recorded in the registers of our parish. These original books are still kept in the parish office but will soon be digitized to preserve the valuable originals.