St. Josef

Amidst the lively bustle of Frankfurt’s Bornheim district, St. Josef Church stands as a unique blend of old and new. St. Josef isn’t just one structure, but two intertwined churches, each telling a different chapter of the same story. The original St. Josef, a neo-Gothic backstein beauty from 1877, whispers tales of a bygone era. It was the first Catholic church built in Frankfurt after the Reformation, a symbol of resilience during the Kulturkampf. Can you imagine the weight of history within those walls? Spolien from the demolished Johanniterkirche, including medieval figures and ornate stones, are woven into the fabric of St. Josef. Look closely, and you might spot a naked man, a hare, and a dog nestled amongst the carvings, echoes of a distant past. The original church, with its charming “Schwalbennester” (swallows’ nests), side additions from the late 19th century, served the burgeoning Catholic community until the early 20th century. The congregation outgrew the original St. Josef, leading to its expansion in the 1930s. A new, modern church, a steel skeleton with light stone walls, arose perpendicular to the old. The architects, Hans and Christoph Rummel, created a striking juxtaposition, a visual representation of the evolving community. Connecting the two is a massive red sandstone triumphal arch. An angel, said to resemble the then-parish priest, Joseph Höhler, adorns the keystone. The high altar, a gift from Frankfurt’s city priest, holds secrets of its own. Its oldest parts date back to the late 15th century, a silent witness to centuries of faith. St. Josef endured the bombings of World War II, though the Maria-Schlaf-Kapelle was lost. The Marienglöckchen, a small bell in the old church’s roof rider, miraculously survived. Today, four bells, cast in 1948, ring out from the tower. Legend has it that material from the destroyed equestrian statue of Wilhelm I from Koblenz was used in their casting, adding another layer of history to St. Josef’s story. Today, St. Josef is more than just a church. It’s the heart of a diverse, international community, a testament to the enduring power of faith through the ages.