“Freedom exists where the spirit of God is.” That’s the motto of St. Johannes-Harvestehude. This Protestant church stands as one of Hamburg’s best-preserved turn-of-the-century monuments.
St. Johannes-Harvestehude is not in Harvestehude. It is actually located in the Rotherbaum quarter. You’ll find it nestled between Turmweg and Mittelweg streets, near the Außenalster lake. Many people call St. Johannes the “secret number six” of Hamburg’s five main churches.
Let’s step back to January 27, 1879. That’s when the parish of St. John-Harvestehude was founded. The first parish council chose Wilhelm Hauers’ design out of seven proposals. Dr. Mönckeberg, the future mayor, presided over this council. The construction moved swiftly from 1880 to 1882. This was thanks to the “provisorial committee” settling property issues and providing capital.
Architect Hauers designed St. Johannes in the spirit of the “Eisenacher Regulativ” of 1861. The result is a nearly complete neo-Gothic work of art. This includes the pews, chairs, lecterns, and even the organ. Also included are the terrazzo floor and frescoes. The spires of St. Johannes are easily visible. Especially at night, they shine from across the town. The main spire reaches a height of 80 meters.
Inside St. Johannes, everything focuses on Jesus and the altar. The wood-carved and gold-plated altar is a masterpiece by Hamburg sculptor Neuber. It depicts Jesus three times. First, it shows a copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Communion.” The title reads: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.” Second, there’s a depiction of crucifixion scenes. This is a reproduction of Tilmann Riemenschneider’s work. It’s embroidered with a mandorla. Finally, the altar’s pediment shows Jesus as the resurrected Christ.
Above the altar, a window shows Jesus as Lord. He wears a red toga. He holds keys in his left hand and the “Book of Life” in his right.
The stained glass in St. Johannes is stunning. The designs come from artists of the “Nazarene” group around Schnoor von Carolsfeld. These glass paintings were manufactured in Innsbruck, Austria. They still shine brilliantly. Protective windshields prevent environmental damage. The windows illustrate a biblical cycle. It begins with Old Testament depictions on the main entrance’s left. Then, it proceeds with the “Christmas window” at the crossing. The cycle continues with images of Christ in the Choir. It ends with the “Pentecostal window” and New Testament subjects.
The organ in St. Johannes dates back to the church’s origin. In 1882, Marcussen und Sohn built a two-manual instrument with 27 voices. Furtwängler & Hammer altered it for the last time in 1933. Now, the three-manual instrument has 49 registers and 3494 pipes.
After the war, St. Johannes’ organ was Hamburg’s only concert organ in use. In the 1970s, it was thoroughly renovated. In 1974, the company Peter of Cologne added a new playing table. This table used electronic technology. Now, the organ can play all kinds of music. This includes pre-baroque, modern, and improvisations.
St. Johannes-Harvestehude stands as a testament to faith and art. Its history, architecture, and music create a rich cultural experience. The church continues to draw people from across the city. They come for lively services, concerts, and spiritual offerings.