Reaching for the sky with its slender tower, St. Georg in Frankfurt Oder stands before you. This isn’t just another church. St. Georg is a testament to faith and architectural innovation.
The story of St. Georg begins long before this striking brick building. Back in 1312, a house for lepers stood near here. This “domus leprosum” used St. Georg as their patron saint. It’s believed a church arose around the same time. This original St. Georg stood at the mouth of Bergstraße.
Time marched on. In 1368, the Gewandschneidern guild supported the church. The Bishop of Lebus confirmed it. But St. Georg wasn’t a parish of its own. A chaplain from Marienkirche cared for the church’s spiritual needs. Around 1545, the Wins family helped rebuild St. Georg.
The Thirty Years’ War brought devastation. Swedish forces, led by Johan Banér, tried to blow up the church tower in 1631 and 1633. The western half of the nave collapsed. Reconstruction started in 1653 and ended in 1656. In 1787, Martin Friedrich Knoblauch expanded the church. By the late 19th century, St. Georg was too small and falling apart. A report in 1899 suggested a new building.
Finally, in 1926, the old church was torn down. A new St. Georg began to rise. Curt Steinberg, an architect from Berlin, designed the new church. Friedrich Paulke’s company constructed it. Klinker bricks from Ilse-Bergbau A.G. clad the building. Puhl Wagner Gottfried Heinersdorff created the mosaics and stained glass.
On April 1, 1928, St. Georg was consecrated. Soon after, the Sauer organ was installed. The church could hold 600 to 650 people. This makes St. Georg the largest church in the Frankfurt Oder Protestant community.
Notice the unique design. St. Georg is a central building in the Expressionist style. The altar is surrounded by the pews, unlike traditional churches. A 15-meter dome rises above, reaching an interior height of 18 meters.
The exterior uses dark red Klinker bricks. The tower has an open gallery for weather protection. A cylindrical section displays clocks facing all directions.
Before St. Georg, see the sculpture of St. George slaying the dragon. Curt Steinberg and Paul Bronisch created this memorial. The names of 168 fallen members of the community from World War I are inscribed on it.
Inside, note the six-armed bronze chandelier with a lion’s head. Look for the stained-glass window on the south side. It shows the resurrected Christ. The Kanzelaltar is made of travertine. Mosaics decorate it. The baptismal font is made of brick.
St. Georg stands as a symbol of resilience. It embodies artistic innovation. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and history. It has witnessed centuries of change. It continues to serve as a place of worship and community.