Recall a time when Grunewald was just becoming a sought-after village. Today, we stand before the Grunewaldkirche. It is a testament to both faith and resilience in the heart of Berlin.
The Grunewaldkirche’s story begins at the turn of the 20th century. The Grunewald area was growing. The community desired its own place of worship. The Kurfürstendamm-Gesellschaft stepped in offering land and 150,000 marks. That sum is equivalent to around 1.26 million Euros today.
An architectural competition sought a design. Late Gothic style using quarry stone was required. Philipp Nitze’s design won. Construction began in July 1902. By August 1903 the tower was done. The main construction finished in December 1903. Generous donations from the community provided the funds needed for the interior. An organ, bells and stained-glass windows were added. The Grunewaldkirche was consecrated on June 1, 1904.
In 1921 Dietrich Bonhoeffer was confirmed here. During World War II in 1943 an air mine severely damaged the Grunewaldkirche. The roof was torn off. Reconstruction started in 1949 but in a simpler form. The Grunewaldkirche was rededicated on April 12, 1959.
Notice the church’s architecture. It is a three-aisled hall church. It features a rectangular altar apse. The square tower stands between the nave and apse. Yellow-gray tuff and green-blue Main sandstone were used. This matched the villa character of the surroundings.
Otto Richter, Hans Seliger, August Oetken and Paul Golde contributed to the artistic details. Georg Lichtfuß redesigned the entrance from 1956 to 1959. He replaced the Gothic entrance with a copper-covered structure.
Inside the nave is bright. Pillars and window frames are gray sandstone. Instead of a star vault there is now a barrel vault. The choir has a pointed arch vault. Only the arcades and side gallery retain ribbed vaults.
Until its destruction in 1943 the Grunewaldkirche had six stained-glass windows. New windows designed by Johannes Schreiter replaced them between 1993 and 2000. The base of the pulpit survived. The baptismal font also survived.
Look for the oil painting in the entrance hall. It depicts Charlemagne. Karl der Großen is with Pope Leo III and two bishops. A portal shows the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Interestingly the Grunewaldkirche had another purpose. It was used as a recording venue in the 1950s and 1960s. The Berliner Philharmoniker and other orchestras recorded here.
Four bronze bells hang in the tower. They have different tones and inscriptions. The first organ was destroyed in 1943. Karl Schuke built a new one in 1967.
Today the Grunewaldkirche stands as a monument. It embodies faith, art and history. It is a place of worship and a cultural landmark in Berlin. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and history.