St. Mary's Church in the center of the city is the largest church in Weißenfels. It can be seen from afar and serves as orientation on the way to the market, to Jüdenstraße or to the town hall. Many people have found a place here for prayer, music and listening to the Gospel. The church of St. Mary was consecrated in 1303. The late Gothic three-nave hall church was extensively renovated and enlarged in the 15th/16th century. The church tower was rebuilt in Baroque style after a destructive fire in 1718. Temporarily, the church also functioned as a representative court church. The most important furnishings date from this period. The organ of the church was built in 1862/64 by the Weißenfels organ builder Friedrich Ladegast and served him as a demonstration instrument. In 2000 it was declared the church of the year. There are regular church services