Adventskirche

Did you ever hear about a church made largely of wood, even its baptismal font? This is the Adventskirche in Munich. It’s a fascinating place, not just for its unique material choices, but for the journey it took to become the beloved community hub it is today. The Adventskirche story begins in the early 20th century. The Protestant community in Aubing was steadily growing, leading to the founding of the “Evangelical Association of Aubing and Surroundings” in 1924. Initially, services were held in unconventional locations, like the Neuaubing beer hall in 1936. Can you imagine the hymns and sermons echoing amidst the clinking of beer steins? The following year, architect Horst Schwabe was commissioned to design a dedicated space for worship, the Adventskirche. The foundation stone was laid in 1938, and even before its official inauguration on Michaelisfest 1940, the still-unfinished Adventskirche began hosting services in September 1939. This eagerness speaks volumes about the community’s desire for a spiritual home. The Adventskirche originally served a wide area, encompassing Aubing, Neuaubing, Germering, and Unterpfaffenhofen. It wasn’t until 1959 that Unterpfaffenhofen-Germering established its own independent congregation. The Adventskirche has undergone significant renovations. A new community center was added in 2019, demonstrating its continued growth and adaptation to the needs of its members. Today, the Adventskirche also embraces the newly developed district of Munich-Freiham. Now, let’s step inside the Adventskirche. The interior is strikingly simple, yet warm. A wooden barrel vault, supported by beams, gives the otherwise colorless space a sense of intimacy. In the raised altar area, a plain wooden cross adorns the choir wall, with a simple wooden altar below. A wooden pulpit stands at the transition from the nave to the apse. To the right, in the apse itself, is the lectern, originally positioned where the baptismal font now stands. And yes, the baptismal font is also made of wood, often referred to by the congregation as the “baptismal trunk.” The organ, originally from the mother parish in Pasing, was built in 1904 by Steinmeyer. It was then adapted for the Adventskirche by Albert Moser in 1939. The church bells, four in total, also have a unique history. They replaced an earlier set of iron bells from 1919, offering a richer, more resonant sound. They ring out an “ideal quartet” in the tones of F sharp 1, A1, B1, and D2. The Adventskirche is more than just a building. It’s a testament to the perseverance and faith of a community. From a beer hall to a beautiful, unique church, it has served as a spiritual anchor for generations.