Can you hear the echoes of a village that dared to be different? This is the story of the Alte Bethlehemkirche in Frankfurt-Ginnheim. It stands as a testament to faith and resilience.
Once upon a time, Ginnheim was part of the County of Hanau-Münzenberg. The reformation swept through in the 16th century. It initially followed Lutheran ideals. Then, in 1597, Count Philipp Ludwig II imposed a second reformation. He favored the reformed confession. Only a few families followed him. Most of the families remained faithful to the Lutheran belief.
The Maria-Magdalena-Kapelle belonged to the reformed state church. So, the Lutheran majority had to travel to Bonames for services. Bonames was part of Frankfurt. It was practically like going abroad.
The situation improved in 1642. The Lutheran Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg began to rule. From 1678, Ginnheim’s Lutheran community had its own pastor. He was also responsible for Lutherans in Eschersheim and Bockenheim. Yet, Lutherans could only bury their dead in the reformed cemetery from 1722.
Under Count Philipp Reinhard, Lutheran communities received support. They could build their own churches. The size of the community had to justify it. This led to the construction of the Reinhardskirchen. In 1699, Ginnheim started building its church. It was consecrated in 1700. The ruler did not contribute to the construction costs.
The Alte Bethlehemkirche is a single-nave church. Its chancel has a pentagonal closure. The nave is oriented east-west. The main portal is in the west. The exterior is simple. A roof turret sits on the gable roof. It houses two bells. One bell dates back to 1815. The Gebrüder Barrthels cast it. The second is an iron bell from 1922. Schilling and Lattermann made it in Apolda. It replaced one melted down in World War I. Round-arched windows let light into the building.
Inside, a gallery runs around two sides of the room. Men used to sit here during services. Women sat on the ground floor. A stuccoed flat ceiling covers the room. It features a neo-Baroque ceiling painting from 1902. The romantic organ from 1903 stands in the chancel above the altar. Daniel Raßmann originally built it. Wilhelm Ratzmann rebuilt it in 1964.
The end of biconfessionalism came with the Napoleonic Wars. The economic crisis made the dual church structure unnecessary. In 1818, the Hanauer Union merged the two Protestant churches. Churches with two Protestant buildings had to give one up. The Maria-Magdalena-Kapelle was demolished in 1830. A memorial plaque marks its former location today.
After Ginnheim became part of Frankfurt in 1910, the church remained with the Kassel consistorial district. Since 2017, the Ginnheimer Kirchplatzgärtchen has been located on the church square. It is a citizen project supported by the Historical Museum Frankfurt. Citizens plant and maintain raised beds here.
Today, we call it the Alte Bethlehemkirche. This distinguishes it from the newer Bethlehemkirche. The new church was built between 1968 and 1971. Both belong to the same parish. The Alte Bethlehemkirche stands as a symbol of Ginnheim’s enduring spirit.