Hamburg once had a Heiligen-Geist-Hospital. This hospital significantly shaped the city’s history. Today, we stand before the site where its church once stood.
The Heiligen-Geist-Hospital emerged around 1246. It stood at the Rödingsmarkt. This location is now the U-Bahn station. The hospital owned considerable property. This included the Heiligengeistfeld and Barmbek. Barmbek was then far outside the city gates. The Heiligengeistfeld still reminds us of the hospital today.
A chapel was first built in 1308. A new brick church replaced it in 1559. The new church’s roof was covered in copper. However, the Heiligen-Geist-Kirche suffered many disfiguring additions. It also frequently flooded. The city ordered the church’s closure in 1805. Two years later, its contents were sold.
During the French occupation from 1806 to 1814, the Heiligen-Geist-Kirche served as a hay storage. It was demolished in 1832.
Around 1220, a hospital was founded for leprosy patients. It was in the suburb of St. Georg. The Spitalerstraße still reminds us of this today. The Blagen Süstern convent emerged in 1233. Monasteries also cared for the sick. These included the Franziskanerkloster St.-Maria-Magdalenen. It was founded in 1277. Also, the St.-Johannisk Kloster der Dominikaner, established in 1235. And the Nonnenkloster Herwardeshude since 1247.
The Heiligen-Geist-Hospital was one of Hamburg’s richest foundations. It provided daily sustenance to 150 residents. Most were female. No one under 45 was admitted.
In 1428, the Sunte Ilsabenhus was founded. In 1505, the Hiobshospital on Spitalerstraße. The Pesthof was established on the Heiligengeistfeld in 1606.
Another Heiligengeistkirche existed in Barmbek. It was built in neogothic style. Hugo Groothoff designed it in 1902 and 1903. It was consecrated in December 1903. The church stood on the old village square. Before that, the manor house of the Oberalten stood there. They managed the property of the former Heiligengeisthospital from there.
Bombs completely destroyed the Heiligengeistkirche in 1943. The reconstruction with a shortened spire began in 1955. The reconsecration took place on December 6, 1955. In the mid-1960s, Anna Andersch-Marcus created 50 leaded windows.
A building survey in 2003 revealed significant renovation needs. The costs were estimated at 2.8 million euros. The parish could not finance this. In 2001, the three old Barmbek parishes merged. The focus shifted to the Kreuzkirche. The Heiligengeistkirche was closed in 2004. It was deconsecrated at the end of May 2005. The three bells from 1962 were removed. Since 2006, they ring with a historical bell in the Lutherkirche in Lübeck.
In spring 2008, it was demolished except for a remnant of the eastern church wing. A residential complex was built on the site. It has 49 new condominiums. A remaining part of the church was integrated into the new building.
The construction project was accompanied by protests. Residents collected signatures against the construction. Shortly after completion, silver symbols were sprayed on the tower house. These were immediately removed.
Today, the Heiligen-Geist-Kirche in Barmbek is gone. Only memories and stories remain. These remind us of its history and importance.