A simple yet striking structure. That’s the Wartburgkirche in Frankfurt’s Nordend. Built between 1959 and 1962 it stands as a testament to postwar architecture. Architect Werner W Neumann designed this Protestant church. He named it after the famous Wartburg castle in Eisenach.
The Wartburgkirche isn’t just a place of worship. It’s a cultural landmark protected under the Hessian Monument Protection Act. Its unique hexagonal shape is immediately noticeable. The entrance and choir walls are cleverly angled creating an intriguing visual effect. The building materials are equally interesting. The side walls are brick. The striking gable walls however are made of roughly hewn limestone.
Inside the Wartburgkirche light floods the space. Large glass panels along the walls are responsible for this. The windows are the work of Stuttgart glass painter Christian Oehler. A band of milky glass cubes leads to the altar and baptistery. Four stained-glass windows depicting Christ adorn the south wall. The floor is brick. The ceiling is wood. Simple yet powerful. This is the essence of the church’s design. Neumann himself described his aim to achieve directness and clarity. His style shuns decorative elements. The Wartburgkirche’s understated elegance is a deliberate choice.
The interior is equally impressive. Sculptor Jurgen Weber created the altar pulpit and baptismal font from shell limestone. He also made the bronze cross above the altar. The church’s lighting fixtures and the relief on the choir organ casing are also his work. Even the seating is remarkable. The five hundred wooden seats are by the renowned designer Egon Eiermann. The church’s two iron portals in the entrance wall are by Hans Wissel. The impressive organ boasts 26 stops two manuals and a pedal. It was built by Werner Bosch Orgelbau. The seventy-foot-high tower houses seven bronze bells from the Rincker bell foundry.
The Wartburgkirche’s history goes further back than its construction date. The Evangelical Lutheran Wartburg congregation was founded in 1955. It was a branch of the Bornheimer Johannisgemeinde. The church’s dedication took place on February 18 1962. This modern church stands as a beacon in Frankfurt. It’s a captivating blend of architecture artistry and faith.