“A testament to faith rebuilt” That’s how I’d describe the Propsteikirche St Trinitatis.
Before you stands the third iteration of Leipzig’s Propsteikirche St Trinitatis. This magnificent building is not just a church. It’s a story of resilience and faith woven into brick and stone. The first Propsteikirche St Trinitatis was erected in 1847. It stood west of the New Town Hall. Sadly this structure was heavily damaged in 1943 during the bombings of World War II. Only the outer walls and the tower remained. In 1954 the ruins were demolished. The congregation’s hopes for a new church were dashed by the SED government. They repeatedly denied permission for rebuilding.
The congregation found temporary homes in various Protestant churches. For years their choir even rehearsed and performed in the Nikolaikirche. Finally in the late 1970s permission for a new church was granted. This second Propsteikirche St Trinitatis was completed in 1982. Designed by the East German Academy of Architecture. It wasn’t long before significant structural damage appeared. The building suffered from water damage and unstable foundations. The costs for constant repairs and heating proved unsustainable. The location proved inconvenient for the growing congregation.
By the early 2000s a plan for a new Propsteikirche St Trinitatis was developed. On November 10 2008 this was announced to the public. An international architectural competition was held in 2009. The winning design by Schulz und Schulz Architekten GmbH was chosen. Construction began in November 2012. The foundation was laid using 104 nine-meter-long piles. The cornerstone was laid on April 27 2013. The topping-out ceremony was held on March 28 2014. The church was consecrated on May 9 2015. It is the largest new church built in the new federal states since the Peaceful Revolution of 1989.
The Propsteikirche St Trinitatis ensemble has a triangular layout. The church is in the east wing. A weekday chapel and sacristy are to its south. The west wing houses a large community hall offices. Upstairs are three priest apartments and a guest apartment. The exterior is clad in Rochlitzer Porphyr. A 50-meter-high bell tower crowns the building. A 7.5-meter-high 700-kilogram cross tops the tower.
The church features a stunning 22-meter-long 3-meter-high north window. Designed by Leipzig artist Falk Haberkorn. The entire text of the Old and New Testaments is visible on the panes depending on the lighting.
The altar ambo tabernacle and other elements were designed by Cuban-American artist Jorge Pardo. The church also boasts a magnificent new organ by Vleugels. It contains 44 stops and 2716 pipes. The five bronze bells include two from the 1982 church. Three new bells were cast in 2017 by Grassmayr in Innsbruck.
The Propsteikirche St Trinitatis stands as a symbol of faith hope and architectural innovation. A remarkable building a testament to the enduring spirit of the Catholic community in Leipzig. A must see on any visit to Leipzig.