Ever wondered what it felt like to find solace on the outskirts of a sprawling city? That’s precisely the experience offered by the Evang. Erlöserkirche. This Lutheran church sits in Leopoldau, a part of Vienna’s 21st district, Floridsdorf. It is a beacon of faith in a unique setting.
The Evang. Erlöserkirche stands freely on Kainachgasse. Look around. You’ll see it’s part of the Nordrandsiedlung. This is a loosely developed settlement at the edge of the city. The church has a rectangular shape and a simple pitched roof. A small bell tower and a porch mark its western side. Attached to the church is a two-story parish office to the northeast.
Step inside the Evang. Erlöserkirche. Notice how the interior aligns from west to east. The altar, pulpit, and baptismal font are at the east end. A pipe organ sits on a gallery in the west. The organ has 11 registers, two manuals, and pedals. Light streams through the side windows arranged in groups of six.
The Evang. Erlöserkirche is more than just a building. It is home to the Leopoldau parish. This parish belongs to the Evangelical Superintendentury A. B. Vienna. Ernst Liebe designed the church between 1959 and 1961. Friedrich Preyer, then a vicar, designed the altar, pulpit, and baptismal font. He later became a pastor. He also created reliefs for the Johanneskirche in Liesing.
Interestingly, the houses south and west of the Evang. Erlöserkirche are older. They date back to the 1930s. The apartment buildings to the north and east were built later between 1967 and 1969.
In 1983, the Evang. Erlöserkirche was renovated. A gently curved wooden ceiling was added. The bell tower houses a bell. Grassmayr Bell Foundry cast it in 1964. It rings in the key of E.
The Evang. Erlöserkirche stands as a testament to faith and community. It evolved alongside the surrounding neighborhood. It provides a spiritual anchor for the people of Leopoldau. The church is located at Kainachgasse 39. Sunday services take place at 9:30 AM. The office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.