Silent sentinels stand guard. Stone lions adorn the steeple of the Patronatus Church. Or rather they *did* adorn it. This is the Patronatus Church in Berlin. A church with a story etched in both stone and silence.
Before you stands the oldest Reformed Protestant church in Berlin. Its foundation stone was laid in 1695. This was close to the ancient city walls. It wasn’t built in a day. Many architects contributed to its creation. Johann Arnold Nering began the design. But Martin Grünbaum finished it after Nering passed. Andreas Schluter Jean de Bodt and Philipp Gerlach also left their mark. The result is a unique building. A blend of Dutch and Italian styles. Its subtly baroque. Its plastered walls shine brightly in the sunlight. The church boasts a chancel with four apses. A cruciform arrangement makes it unique. Arched windows and a tall narthex flank pilasters.
The Patronatus Church’s tower is a later addition. Completed sometime in the 18th century. Atop the tower once sat a carillon. This was a musical instrument of bells. It played every hour across Europe. It finished with a dramatic roar. That of the stone lions. Unfortunately the war silenced it. The bombing of World War II gutted the Patronatus Church. Its interior was completely destroyed. The walls remain undecorated. A stark reminder of that destruction. An iron cross designed by Fritz Kühn stands in the center. Made from scrap metal from the destroyed church it stands as a symbol of hope.
The Patronatus Church has been rebuilt piece by piece. In the summer of 2016 the bell tower dome was restored. After 72 years the golden sun shone again. On October 23 2016 the carillon played again. Fifty-two bells ring out from the church’s 65-meter tower. The lions are gone but their roar lives on in the memory of this remarkable church. The Patronatus Church is more than just a building. It’s a testament to resilience. It’s a symbol of faith and a survivor of war. Its silence speaks volumes. Its restoration sings a powerful song of hope.