Editing Aalen (section)

==== Protestantism ====
Aalen's population originally was subject to the [[jus patronatus]] of Ellwangen Abbey, and thus subject to the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Augsburg]].

With the assistance of the Duke of Württemberg, in 1575, the [[reformation]] was implemented in Aalen. Subsequently, Aalen has been a predominantly Protestant town for centuries, with the exception of the years from 1628 until 1632 (see [[#Reformation|reformation]] section). Being an Imperial City, Aalen could govern its clerical matters on its own, so Clerics, organists and choir masters were direct subjects to the council, which thus exerted bishop-like power. There was even a proper hymn book for Aalen.<ref name="bauer82"/> After the transition to Württemberg, in 1803, Aalen became seat of a [[deanery]], with the dean church being the Town Church (with the building constructed from 1765 to 1767 and existing until present). [[Georg Pfäfflin]] was dean in Aalen (1952–1967). He carried out the parish service with great commitment, built community centers and renovated churches. When he said goodbye to Aalen, the newspaper Schwäbische Post paid tribute to him: ''A distinguished personality in intellectual life is leaving Aalen''.

Another notable church in Aalen is [[John the Baptist|St. John's]] Church, located on the cemetery and refurbished in 1561.

As Aalen's population grew in the 20th century, more parishes were founded: [[Mark the Evangelist|St. Mark's]] parish with its church building of 1967 and [[Martin of Tours|St. Martin's]] parish with its church of 1974. In the borough of Unterrombach, Aalen had implemented the [[reformation]] as well, but the community remained a [[chapel of ease|chapel-of-ease]] of Aalen. A proper church, the Christ Church, was erected in 1912 and a proper parish was established in 1947. In Fachsenfeld, the ruling family of Woellwarth resp. of Leinroden implemented the reformation. A parish church was built in 1591, however with an influx of Catholics in the 18th century, a Catholic majority was established. The other districts of present-day Aalen remained mostly catholic after the reformation, however Wasseralfingen established a Lutheran parish in 1891 and a church, St. Magdalene's Church, in 1893. In Unterkochen, after World War II, a parish was established and a church was built in 1960. All four parishes belong to the deanery of Aalen within the [[Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg]]. Furthermore, in Aalen there are [[Pietism|Old Pietistic]] communities.