A majestic dome pierces the Berlin sky. This is Sankt Michael. Its presence is a testament to faith resilience and a complex history.
Sankt Michael’s Church in Berlin-Mitte stands as a powerful symbol. It is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Berlin built after the Reformation. King Frederick William IV a Protestant himself commissioned its construction. He intended it as a spiritual home for Catholic soldiers easing the burden on St Hedwig’s Cathedral.
Construction began in 1851 and concluded in 1861. Architect August Soller initially envisioned a Gothic facade with two towers. He later revised the design incorporating elements of a Zentralbau a building with rotational symmetry. He ultimately settled on a hall church design. Soller tragically died during construction. His work was completed by others including his nephew Richard Lucae.
The church served as a garrison church for Catholic soldiers. It later evolved into a parish church. Its congregation the “Michaelites” grew significantly from 6000 members to nearly 20000 by 1900. The area surrounding Sankt Michael became a social hub with the church actively engaging in community work. The Marienstift a social institution established in 1909 provided vital services. Blessed Bernhard Lichtenberg a future opponent of Nazism served as chaplain here. Maximilian Kaller another future Nazi opponent further expanded the church’s social engagement.
The Second World War brought devastation. A devastating air raid in 1945 nearly destroyed the Luisenstadt district. Sankt Michael suffered severe damage. The interior including the organ was decimated. Only the outer walls the dome and the facade survived. The resilience of the church is remarkable. Despite the destruction services resumed in 1953.
The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 split the parish. The church found itself in East Berlin. West Berlin Catholics built a new Sankt Michael church. The two communities diverged in their styles of worship and community building. Remarkably however restoration work continued on the original church. The dome was repaired and a new organ was installed.
After reunification the area was restored to its original form. The statue of St Michael was returned to its place atop the tower. The Annunciation mosaic a survivor of the bombing was restored. The nave however remains roofless. Services are held in the transepts.
Today Sankt Michael’s Church is no longer a parish church. It stands as a powerful testament to faith history and the enduring spirit of Berlin. Its incomplete state serves as a potent reminder of the past and the ongoing process of healing and remembrance.