Imagine an angel playing a trumpet. That’s the symbol watching over the Evangelische Christuskirche. This angel stands atop the church tower. It sends a vital Christian message into Neuhausen-Nymphenburg.
The Evangelische Christuskirche stands as a testament to faith. It’s a vibrant part of Munich’s Neuhausen-Nymphenburg district. This church is more than just a building. It’s a lively hub for music. It is a welcoming community.
Let’s step back to the late 19th century. The Evangelische Christuskirche was built between 1899 and 1901. It was designed in the neo-Gothic style by architect Erich Göbel. The construction was undertaken by Heilmann & Littmann. This striking building quickly became a local landmark.
However, the church faced hard times. In July 1944, bombing heavily damaged it. Reconstruction was completed around 1953. Architect Bruno Biehler oversaw the simplified restoration. The towering spire was rebuilt without its octagon. A large window donated by Prince Regent Luitpold was not replaced. The interior got a flat ceiling instead of the original wooden vault.
In 1962, the church got a new pulpit and altar. Then, in 1975, the choir area was altered. A dividing wall created a separate side room. A renovation in 1999 refreshed the church.
Notice the church’s west facade. It faces Dom-Pedro-Platz. The tower stands on the southwest corner. A neo-Gothic portico protects the main entrance. Above the portal, sculptor Ernst Pfeifer’s tympanum shows the resurrected Christ. It was added in 1908.
The tower is topped by a weather vane. It depicts an angel with a trumpet. The Evangelische Christuskirche bells chime a special tune. The four bells create an ideal quartet. It follows the motif of the Dresdner Amen. The first three tones start the Gregorian Te Deum laudamus. The last three begin Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Inside, the altar cross made by Anne von Miller-Schütz in 1962 is a focal point. Helmut Ammann designed the choir windows installed in 1962.
The Evangelische Christuskirche boasts a remarkable organ. The original 1940 Steinmeyer organ was destroyed in the 1944 bombing. A new Rieger organ was installed in 1966. It features around 4000 pipes and 46 registers. This organ is a significant landmark. It is a monument of Munich’s organ movement.
The Evangelische Christuskirche is more than bricks and mortar. With nearly 9000 members, it is Munich’s largest Lutheran parish. The church actively engages with the community. It hosts regular concerts and musicals. Six choirs contribute to these events. The church produced the crossover work Rock Requiem in 1978. The Narrenpredigt, a Shrove Sunday tradition, ran from 2002 to 2020. The Christuskirche foundation, established in 2007, helps maintain the building.
The Evangelische Christuskirche is a place of worship. It is a center for community. Its architecture and music enrich Munich. The angel with the trumpet continues to share its message.