St. Helena-Kirche

A hidden gem lies nestled along the bustling Bornheimer Straße in Bonn. It is the St. Helena-Kirche. At first glance, St. Helena-Kirche might seem unassuming. Its simple facade blends with the neighboring buildings. But look closer. This church holds a captivating story. St. Helena-Kirche was built in 1960 by architects Emil Steffann and Nikolaus Rosiny. They envisioned a unique structure that reflected the pilgrimage to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. The church deliberately blurs the lines between sacred and secular. It integrates into the row of neighboring houses, its sanctuary sharing walls with nearby living spaces. The church lacks a traditional tower. Its height doesn’t surpass the surrounding buildings. The materials used, concrete, brick, steel, glass, slate, and wood, reflect the character of Bonn’s former building material and craft district. The steel framework on the ceiling could be interpreted as an “open sky”. The street pavement continues into the ground-level weekday chapel. The door is intentionally not soundproof. This allows the sounds of traffic and daily life to permeate the liturgy. The main sanctuary, a nearly square cube, is located on the upper floor. It is illuminated by a high window strip on the courtyard side. The walls are made of reddish-brown perforated bricks. A steel pipe construction hangs beneath the flat ceiling. A simple gallery for the organ is located on the street side. The altar, a large block of light Carrara marble resting on a marble column, takes center stage. This column extends down through the floor into the small chapel below. It houses the tabernacle before grounding in the earth. The same marble is used for the apostle candlesticks and holy water basins. Around the turn of the millennium, St. Helena-Kirche faced dwindling attendance. It merged with neighboring parishes. Eventually, the main sanctuary was repurposed. It became the “Kreuzung an Sankt Helena,” a dialogue space for contemporary culture and Christian worship. The altar, candlesticks, and basins remain, preserving the space’s sacred character. The former parish, now St. Petrus, generously provides the space free of charge and covers the building costs. This aligns with their “Petrus-Weg,” a dialogically oriented pastoral approach inspired by the Archdiocese of Poitiers. The “Kreuzung an Sankt Helena” hosts a diverse range of events. These include art exhibitions, installations, film screenings, panel discussions, symposia, dance and theater projects, performances, concerts, readings, and experimental church services. The program is curated and managed entirely by volunteers. They handle everything from fundraising and logistics to publicity. This dedication has earned the space recognition. It has been awarded “Spielstätte des Jahres” by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media multiple times. St. Helena-Kirche stands as a testament to adaptation and community engagement. It has evolved from a traditional parish church into a vibrant cultural hub. It fosters dialogue and creative expression in the heart of Bonn.