Upon entering the Kapernaumkirche you are immediately struck by its surprising height and brightness. This isn’t your typical church. The Kapernaumkirche in Munich is an evangelisch-lutherische church. It’s located near the Lerchenauer See on Lassallestrasse. Dedicated on October 6 1968 its annual festival is held on Erntedank.
Architect Reinhard Riemerschmid designed the church and its accompanying community center and parish office between 1966 and 1968. The entire complex is now a listed monument. The church’s unusual architecture is what truly sets it apart.
The interior is a marvel of design. The pyramidal worship space evokes the image of a tent. It’s entirely clad in wood. The seating arrangement is unique. 336 seats surround a circular altar island. This island is raised on two steps. Everything needed for services is located there. The altar itself a solid polished Nagelfluh slab is directly connected to the pulpit.
This clever design symbolically links the Eucharist and prayer with the word and proclamation. At the heart of the altar island sits a steel and stained-glass cross the Easter candle and a baptismal font with a silver bowl.
The stained-glass window behind the altar is a masterpiece. Designed by Gerd Jähnke it stretches to the roof. The window’s colors shift dramatically from dark and heavy at the bottom to light and airy at the top. It depicts a multifaceted representation of God and our world. Earth and heaven earthly city and God’s city dark and light.
Dark colors like anthracite brown and violet at the base represent the challenges of earthly life sorrow need fear illness guilt and death. Above this green symbolizes the biblical city of Capernaum depicted with a gate stones and stairs. Higher still is a diagonal violet cross and a darkened sun in gray and black tones representing Golgotha. This central section symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus. Finally the top section predominantly in red blue and yellow depicts heavenly Jerusalem dominated by the eye of God. The upward progression toward brighter more radiant colors speaks of increasing light and perfection.
Even the organ on the gallery is significant. A G F Steinmeyer & Co. instrument from 1948 it originally belonged to the Christuskirche. It was modified by Deininger in 1976 for the Kapernaumkirche. Its pipe arrangement cleverly mimics the church’s tent-like roof.
The exterior is equally striking. The large copper-clad tent roof extends to the ground on the east side. The west side features a large glass entrance offering a view of the spacious park. Interestingly the same flooring continues seamlessly from the inside to the outside of the church. This cleverly designed architectural feature extends the worship experience beyond the church walls into everyday life. From the outside the elongated community center resembles a fortress a nod to the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. Yet the slender steeple the pointed tent roof and the glass fronts with passages to the Lerchenauer See still maintain an open and welcoming atmosphere. A curious fact the community center is 44 meters wide. That’s precisely the same height as the church tower which contains no bells for structural reasons.
The Kapernaumkirche is more than just a building. It’s a testament to thoughtful design. It’s a place of worship that seamlessly blends architecture faith and community. A place where the message of the service extends beyond the confines of its walls into the everyday lives of its congregants.