In 1951 the first plans for a church in Münster’s Südviertel were drawn. The Matthäuskirche wasn’t built overnight. It took years of planning and fundraising. A plot of land was finally acquired in 1953. A dedicated association the Verein für den Neubau der Kirche in der Antoniusstraße in Münster e V was formed. This association later changed its name to Verein zur Förderung der Ev Matthäuskirchengemeinde in Münster e V and still exists today.
Construction on the Matthäuskirche began in 1957. The Matthäuskirche was finally consecrated on December 7 1958. This beautiful building is the heart of the Matthäusgemeinde. This independent congregation was established on January 1 1963. It boasts almost 3700 members. The Matthäuskirche also serves the Evangelisch-Koreanische Gemeinde Münster.
The Matthäuskirche’s striking design is the work of Hamburg architect Bernhard Hopp. It’s a steel-reinforced concrete structure clad in clinker bricks. It features a copper-covered roof. An earlier design by a Düsseldorf architect was abandoned due to neighborhood complaints. Unlike many churches the Matthäuskirche isn’t oriented east but north. This was due to its location on a slope. This slope created an approximately 4-meter-high space under the nave. This space houses a community hall seating almost 200 people plus additional rooms for the congregation.
In 2006 the church underwent a major renovation. The pulpit was removed. Sermons are now delivered from a lectern. The baptismal font and altar were replaced. This significantly increased the usable area of the sanctuary. This provided space for performances or a band.
On the eastern gable wall is an altar mosaic. It was created in 1962 or 1963 by Paul von der Forst. The mosaic depicts Christ as the Judge of the World. The 37-meter-high bell tower was completed in 1961. It houses three bronze bells. These bells were cast by the Münster firm Monasterium Eijsbouts KG formerly Feldmann & Marschel. They ring in the tones fis1 a1 and h1. A glazed connector about ten meters long joins the tower with the sacristy to the nave.
A Führer organ with two manuals and 20 registers was inaugurated in 1969. It was renovated in 2007. The organ has an iron frame. It’s typical of Führer organs built between 1950 and 1970.
The Matthäuskirche stands as a testament to community faith and architectural ingenuity. Its story reflects the evolving landscape of Münster and its people. Visit the Matthäuskirche and experience its rich history.