Time stood still. The Evangelische Kirche Rotthausen stood before us. A testament to faith. It’s history echoed in the very stones.
The Evangelische Kirche Rotthausen wasn’t just a building. It was a silent witness. A witness to the bustling life of Rotthausen. It opened its doors in 1896. A grand opening indeed.
The church was built without a name. A unique choice for the time. It was a bold statement. The townsfolk knew it simply as the Evangelische Kirche in Rotthausen. They found it on Steeler Strasse 48.
Construction began nearly a year earlier. The foundation stone was laid in 1895. This was during the seventh year of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s reign. Architect H Heidsiek from Barmen designed the building. The style was neo-Gothic. It was likely inspired by the Cologne Cathedral. He chose a compact Greek cross design. The nave is 40 meters long. The transept is 30 meters. It seats approximately 1000 people.
The inauguration on July 19 1896 was a grand affair. The festivities included an eight-to-nine-hour peal of bells. The procession to the church was carefully ordered. The brass band led the way. The confirmands catechumens and children’s choir followed. The presbytery came next carrying the sacred vessels. Then came the church officials. Other dignitaries and the women’s association followed. Finally the workers’ association and the men’s association brought up the rear.
The church’s organ is by Seifert of Cologne. It has been modified several times since its installation most recently in 2008.
Over the years the church has undergone changes. The stone obelisks on the roof are gone. So is the memorial to heroes on the altar wall. Three large windows on the organ loft were bricked up to protect the organ. Despite these alterations the church was recognized in 1989. It received landmark status from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The founding document expressed a wish. It wished that the church would be a meeting place. A place of blessing and peace for generations to come. This wish is the foundation of a tradition. It is a tradition that the congregation in Rotthausen continues to uphold to this day. The Evangelische Kirche Rotthausen. A true beacon of faith. A place of quiet reflection. A place of history. A place of community.