Curious how a church can rise from a seed of independence? That’s the story of the Alt-Aumunder Kirche. This church stands as a testament to Aumund’s spirit. Aumund was once a self-governing village. It belonged to the Prussian Province of Hanover until 1939. The Alt-Aumunder Kirche is the church of the parish. It belongs to the Bremen Protestant Church in Bremen-Vegesack. Specifically, it is in the Aumund district.
Now, look at the Alt-Aumunder Kirche’s exterior. Notice the red brick and the neo-Gothic style. The church was built between 1876 and 1877. Ludwig Wege, a building official from Oldenburg, designed it. The construction followed the formation of the parish.
The Alt-Aumunder Kirche is a stepped hall church. Slim wooden pillars divide the hall into three naves. Each nave has six bays. A round choir completes the east end. The square west tower is made of brick. An octagonal tower helmet covers it. Copper plates protect the helmet. Small ornamental turrets adorn the four corners. You can spot four clocks between these turrets.
Did you know this church is a protected monument? It gained this status in 1977. It signifies its cultural and historical importance to Bremen.
Step inside the Alt-Aumunder Kirche. Observe the triumphal arch above the choir. It showcases a painting of Christ enthroned. Angels flank him. Moses and Paul stand on either side. Karl Bohlmann, a church painter from Hanover, created the original paintings in the choir vault in 1909 and 1910. He used tempera technique. Bohlmann also painted St. Michael’s Church in Grohn. Hermann Oetken from Delmenhorst painted over these paintings in 1952.
However, the original paintings were rediscovered. Matthias Seefried, a restorer, revealed them. He carefully restored them using a technique called point retouching. This restoration won the Bremen Preservation Award in 2010.
The Evangelical Lutheran parish of Alt-Aumund is quite active. It runs a kindergarten. It has an adult choir. A brass band also exists. Various discussion groups meet regularly. The parish maintains the Alt-Aumund cemetery. You can find it on Johann-Fromm-Weg. In 1959, the Christophorus parish of Aumund-Fähr separated from the Alt-Aumund parish. However, they share a joint parish office.
So, the Alt-Aumunder Kirche is more than just bricks and mortar. It represents a community’s history. It embodies their faith. It is a place where art and history intertwine. Take a moment to appreciate this blend.