126 lambs a watchful shepherd dog. These figures adorn the exterior of Zur heiligen Familie in Cologne. This isn’t just any church. It’s the former church of a once-massive orphanage. Zur heiligen Familie stands as a testament to resilience and transformation.
Built in the neo-baroque style before World War I it served as the heart of the orphanage in Cologne-Sülz. Tragically the church was largely destroyed during World War II. Only the tower survived. But its story didn’t end there.
In 1955 Dominikus Böhm was commissioned to rebuild the church. Upon his death Gottfried Böhm his son continued the project. Their goal was to create a church filled with light and joyful symbols. A church for children.
From 1956 to 1958 the father and son architectural team rebuilt this church incorporating the surviving tower. The exterior walls are poured concrete. Interestingly some of the bricks from the destroyed old church were used in the new construction.
The interior is truly remarkable. The church’s main space was located on the upper floor above a hall used for various orphanage activities. A rectangular space 128 octagonal small windows divide it. These windows showcase stained glass depicting children playing music. They form a kind of child orchestra encompassing the entire room. The rosette windows themselves depict the Holy Family.
The altar canopy or ciborium was the liturgical and spatial centerpiece. Beneath it were the altar and a tabernacle created in 1958 by Eva Burgeff. Other features included a baptismal font also by Eva Burgeff and a Stations of the Cross by Jochem Pechau. The church also boasted an organ built by Seifert.
Zur heiligen Familie enjoyed a period of renewed purpose serving as a place of worship even after the orphanage moved. In 2010 however the church was secularized. The altar and ciborium were destroyed or removed. Other furnishings were given to other churches museums or storage facilities.
Today Zur heiligen Familie is a cultural and multifunctional center. It stands as a symbol of adaptation and repurposing. While the original liturgical purpose is gone the building remains a vital part of the Cologne community. The three small bells in its tower still ring a silent testament to the past. The middle bell holds special historical significance. The building’s story is one of destruction rebirth and a commitment to preserving a piece of Cologne’s history. A truly unique place this Zur heiligen Familie church.