Hidden in plain sight, the Kath. St. Benedikt-Kirche stands near the Lankwitz S-Bahn station in Berlin. It’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it. The Kath. St. Benedikt-Kirche isn’t a grand cathedral. Instead, it’s a humble, cube-shaped structure. The church is part of a larger complex. It includes a parish house and a daycare center. The Kath. St. Benedikt-Kirche was completed in 1968. Its design, by architect Paul Johannbroer with assistance from H. Petersburs, reflects the post-war modern style.
The Kath. St. Benedikt-Kirche emerged from the Catholic parish of Mater Dolorosa. After World War II, the destruction of the Lankwitz garden city led to the construction of many apartment buildings. This influx of people made a new place of worship necessary. Services were held in the St. Franziskus-Heim on Kaulbachstraße between 1946 and 1952, and later in a temporary church. The parish of St. Benedikt was finally established in 1967.
The church was dedicated to Saint Benedict of Nursia, the founder of the Benedictine Order. The design of the Kath. St. Benedikt-Kirche intentionally echoes the simplicity of a Benedictine monk’s cell. The interior has bare white walls made of lime-sand brick. The only windows are a few skylights made of glass-reinforced concrete. This allows for a play of light that changes throughout the day.
Adding to the unique character of the Kath. St. Benedikt-Kirche are small stones embedded beneath the Apostle lights. These stones come from different Benedictine abbeys. They create a tangible link to the history of the Benedictine order. A statue of the Virgin Mary, originally from the Church of the Resurrection, stands at the back of the church. Across from her is a figure of Saint Benedict. The Church of the Resurrection was sold in 2014.
Even the exterior of the Kath. St. Benedikt-Kirche reflects this principle of simplicity. The building is white and unplastered. Besides the skylights, the only adornment is a simple cross. The roof is flat. The bell tower stands separate from the main building. This makes it more visible from Kaulbachstraße. The tower is made of round exposed concrete rings. It is a simple white, matching the aesthetic of the church. A copper weathercock sits atop the tower. The Kath. St. Benedikt-Kirche is a quiet place of worship. It’s a testament to the power of simplicity and a hidden gem in Berlin.