Perhaps you have noticed the contrast between the modern glass and the older brickwork. That juxtaposition marks the Pauluskirche in Friesdorf as a place of evolution. This church is not just a building. It’s a living testament to community, faith and architectural innovation.
The Pauluskirche was inaugurated on November 27, 1960. Ernst Fohrer, an architect from Krefeld, designed it in the modern style. Note the cubical shape of the main church hall. See how community rooms adjoin it. The freestanding church tower offers a striking contrast to the brick facade.
In October 2014, the Pauluskirche was renovated. The vestibule to the courtyard was replaced with a modern glass extension. This addition regularly hosts small art and music events. The Pauluskirche, along with Christuskirche and the deconsecrated Thomaskapelle, belongs to the Evangelical Thomas Parish of Bad Godesberg. It is part of the Rhineland Evangelical Church.
Inside the Pauluskirche, the large windows depict the conversion of Paul. Reimund Franke created these windows in 1985. The altar area was designed in 1976 by Kurt-Wolf von Borries, a sculptor from Cologne. He also created the altar and baptismal font from gray basalt. The cast-iron panels of the pulpit show Paul’s liberation from prison in Philippi after an earthquake.
Let’s turn our attention now to the organ. Paul Ott’s workshop built the organ in 1966. It features two manuals, a pedal and 24 registers. The organ sits on the north side of the gallery. The fully mechanical instrument comprises two parts. The main and pedal divisions are on the gallery. The Rückpositiv is in the gallery parapet.
The Pauluskirche offers more than architectural and artistic elements. The parish of the Pauluskirche includes the districts of Friesdorf and Godesberg-Nord. Church services have been held here since 1960. Before that, the community met in the Maarhaus, built in 1937.
Family services are a regular feature. Communion is held monthly with juice and wine. The Pauluskirche also hosts regular children’s and school services. These services are often held with the neighboring Evangelical Bodelschwingh School. There are also special services for parents with small children and for kindergarteners.
Integrated into the community center are good rooms for community groups, staff and the library. Smaller events take place in the old community house across the street. This building once served as a nursing station, preaching venue, rectory and sacristan’s residence. The youth leader’s office is also located here. The parsonage and kindergarten connect to the community center.
The community center has its own youth cellar for children and teenagers. This space is used for games, meetings and various activities. Besides the children’s and youth groups, there are three women’s groups and a literature circle. The Pauluskirche also has church music programs. Activities such as the Repair Café are organized by Paulus for Future.
Café Selig serves as a foyer. Every Friday afternoon, people are invited for coffee and cake. It also offers an opportunity to chat after the service over coffee or tea.
The church features a simple altar wall made of red brick with an open cross. In front of it are the altar, baptismal font and pulpit base made of gray basalt. The pulpit consists of cast-iron plates. Professor Kurt-Wolf von Borries depicted Paul’s liberation from prison in Philippi by an earthquake on them. The side wall facing the courtyard is made of colored glass. It displays the conversion of Paul, created by Reimund Franke.
The Pauluskirche and its spaces aim to serve a diverse, humane, cosmopolitan Christian community life. It stands as a symbol of faith, community and artistic expression. Take a moment to appreciate the unique blend of architectural styles. Remember the stories and the spirit of innovation. The Pauluskirche is truly a place where tradition meets modernity.