Imagine refugees seeking a new home found solace here. This is the Evang. Friedenskirche in Lainz. It stands as a testament to faith and community. Let’s delve into its story.
The Evang. Friedenskirche started with Lutherans. They were displaced after World War II. These people settled in the Wartburg-Siedlung. This settlement was near today’s church on Lafitegasse.
Before the Evang. Friedenskirche existed, the community met elsewhere. They gathered in an old people’s home chapel. This later became the Geriatriezentrum Am Wienerwald. A committee formed in 1956. It aimed to establish a dedicated space for worship.
In early 1957, the Hietzing parish approved a new daughter parish in Lainz. Construction began soon after. The Evang. Friedenskirche we see today began to take shape. Rudolf Angelides designed the church. He also designed the rectory and kindergarten. These elements form a single architectural unit.
Groundbreaking occurred in October 1957. The church construction started in the spring of 1959. Bishop Gerhard May consecrated the Evang. Friedenskirche on November 27, 1960. A year later, in 1961, Lainz became an independent parish. This was within the Evangelical Superintendency A. B. Vienna.
Look at the simple interior. The altar sits elevated. Three steps lead to it. A wooden hexagonal pulpit stands to the left. Heinz Glawischnig created the metal cross. It hangs from the ceiling. Dark oak adorns the altar, pulpit, and gallery. A folding door separates the church from a small hall.
Consider the church’s organ. The firm Dreher & Reinisch built it in 1966. It features 18 registers spread across two manuals and pedals. The organ’s actions are mechanical.
Notice the bell tower. Three bells reside there. The first bell was installed in 1983. A renovation in 1995 added a youth room on the gallery. The facades were also freshened with light colors.
The Evang. Friedenskirche is more than bricks and mortar. It is a symbol of hope. It represents a welcoming community. It is a place of peace in Vienna’s Hietzing district. The Evang. Friedenskirche stands protected as a historical monument. It connects the past with the present.