St. Gertrud

Built in 1290 St Gertrud church in Flensburg was once the heart of the Ramsharde district. Its original appearance remains a mystery. No pictures or descriptions survived. Imagine a simpler structure perhaps like the Heilig-Geist church. St Gertrud’s belonged to a parish. This parish was one of four forming medieval Flensburg. These parishes even chose half the city council members. St Gertrud’s held a special place. It was located below the castle. To reach Mayor Peter Jul’s house one walked up the lower castle street. St Gertrud’s stood to the right. Its location was precise. It was in the courtyard of house number 123 on Norderstraße. This was slightly north of the castle street behind the houses. In the 16th century it even owned nearby buildings numbers 123 125 127 and 129. The church’s income wasn’t much. It received ten marks Lubsch as rent six shillings from farmers and six Oertig of grain. St Gertrud’s had a special connection to travelers. Its namesake St Gertrud of Nivelles was their patron saint. Her name means spear and strength in Old High German. Her story is one of inner strength and compassion. She rejected a wealthy marriage. She chose a life of prayer and service instead. She became abbess of a convent. She even brought valuable liturgical books from Rome. She was known for her kindness to the sick and poor. She died young around age 30. March 17th became her feast day. Sadly St Gertrud’s first church suffered. It was damaged during wars and eventually demolished in 1571 due to disrepair. The Ramsharde district joined St Marien parish. The church’s bell however lived on. It was recast in 1631. Its inscription reads “The name of the Lord be praised”. It became a death knell and a prayer bell. The small bell later moved to St Marien’s tower. Today it chimes every fifteen minutes. The church’s graveyard served as a pauper’s cemetery for over 230 years. It was finally closed in 1820. The land was then leased for farming and later divided among neighbors. St Gertrud’s spirit was reborn in 1954. A new community center was built on the site of the old Gertrudenholz. This was to serve the growing western part of the city. The building houses a church kindergarten and youth center. It became a place of welcome for refugees and displaced persons. A new St Gertrud’s emerged. This time as a symbol of hope and community. It continues to serve the people of Flensburg. St Gertrud’s stands as a testament to faith hope and resilience.