“Aemtlerstrasse 49”. The address announces the church. Here, in the heart of Wiedikon, rises Herz Jesu. This isn’t just another church. It’s a testament to faith, community, and architectural evolution. Herz Jesu Wiedikon stands as a Roman Catholic parish church. It serves the district of Zurich.
Now, why two churches in Zurich share the name Herz Jesu? The answer lies in Zurich’s history. The Herz Jesu church in Oerlikon came first. Wiedikon’s church was built later. Oerlikon only became part of Zurich in 1934. So, when Herz Jesu Wiedikon was built, no other church in Zurich shared its name.
Let’s step back in time. Herz Jesu Wiedikon owes its existence to St. Peter and Paul Aussersihl. It started as a daughter parish. In 1921, the Bishop of Chur, Georg Schmid von Gruneck, declared Herz Jesu Wiedikon a parish. He separated it from its mother parish.
The story of Herz Jesu’s creation involves key figures. Johannes Baptist Hildebrand from St. Peter and Paul played a vital role. In 1916, the land for the church was purchased. Construction began on April 20, 1920. Architect Joseph Steiner from Schwyz designed Herz Jesu in 1920 and 1921. He also designed St. Franziskus churches in Wollishofen and Wetzikon. Bishop Georg Schmid von Gruneck consecrated it on June 15, 1921. The church wasn’t fully consecrated until 1956. Bishop Christian Caminada performed the full consecration then.
Over the years, Herz Jesu evolved. In 1922, the community added a communion bench. They installed altars for Joseph and Mary. The church acquired its first organ and a pulpit. Felix Baumhauer, a professor at the Munich Art Academy, enriched the church in 1925. He painted the choir and created the Stations of the Cross.
The Johanneum association house was built and blessed in 1925 and 1926. Its name honors Johannes Baptist Hildebrand. The parish also established charitable and educational institutions. The St. Anna Sisters from Lucerne started a nursing station in 1934. In 1935, Dominican sisters from Ilanz opened a kindergarten. The Maria-Theresia-Stiftung was founded in 1952. It promoted the establishment of a Catholic school. Today, it’s known as the Freie Katholische Schule Wiedikon.
A church renovation took place in 1953 and 1954. Architect F.A. Heinemann added confessionals. These were later removed during the 1960s renovation. The groundbreaking for the Herz Jesu Wiedikon church center occurred on December 28, 1966. Rudolf Mathys designed it. The church underwent significant renovations from 1967 to 1969. A Chapel of Mary was built on Aemtlerstrasse. An undercroft with 300 seats was created beneath the choir. The parish house was rebuilt behind the church. An extension for the Johanneum and the Freie Katholische Schule Wiedikon was built next door. Bishop Johannes Vonderach consecrated the undercroft on June 23, 1968. He consecrated the entire church center on June 14, 1969. The building projects concluded with the inauguration of the new school building.
From 2011 to 2013, the old Johanneum was demolished and replaced. A meditation room and music hall were added. The new building was dedicated to John the Evangelist.
Herz Jesu Wiedikon was once the largest parish in the Diocese of Chur. That was in 1921. It had 19,000 members. Today, Herz Jesu Wiedikon remains a significant parish. It has 7,160 members as of 2021.
Herz Jesu Wiedikon’s architecture is distinctive. It’s a neo-Romanesque church. It features a basilica layout. The nave has a flat roof. The side aisles have groin vaults. The exterior lacks elaborate decorations. Joseph Steiner designed a simple church with a side tower in the vernacular style. The arched openings are arranged in pairs. The 1960s addition altered the church’s original appearance.
The bell tower, erected in 1921, houses six bells. Bishop Georg Schmid von Gruneck consecrated them on September 30, 1928. Franz Schilling Sons cast these bells. They used old Dutch cannons. The largest bell cracked in 1983. Glockengießerei Bachert replaced it in 1984. The cracked bell now stands on the plaza.
Inside Herz Jesu Wiedikon, renovations have left their mark. The original altars were removed. The main apse now features a granite altar and ambo. Granite is used throughout the church. This creates a sense of uniformity.
As you leave Herz Jesu Wiedikon, remember its story. It’s a story of faith, community, and architectural change. It echos through the streets of Wiedikon to this day.