Perhaps unexpectedly, this modern building before you is the Zionskirche Dresden-Südvorstadt. It’s not the grand stone structure you might expect. This is its successor. The original church met a fiery end during World War II.
Let’s delve into the story of the Zionskirche. There are actually two Zionskirche buildings here. The first, called the Alte Zionskirche was built between 1908 and 1912. Schilling & Graebner designed it. Sadly, bombs severely damaged it during the February 1945 bombing.
Today, the Alte Zionskirche stands as a preserved ruin. It houses a lapidarium with 3000 sculptures. Imagine the stories those stones could tell. The parish needed a new home. They found themselves in barracks near the ruins. This was their temporary place of worship for many years.
A new chapter began on June 5, 1981. The first stone of the Neue Zionskirche was laid. It was built on Bayreuther Straße. The Church of Sweden gifted it to the community. Eberhard Burger oversaw its construction.
Finally, on October 31, 1982, the new Zionskirche opened. This marked a new beginning. The wooden church stands on a ground area of 12 by 12 meters. Its highest point reaches 10 meters. A stainless steel cross tops the tent roof.
Inside, the church can accommodate 120 people. The community hall hosts another 100. Moveable chairs replace fixed pews. This allows for flexible use of the space.
The Zionskirche has sister congregations. They include Paul-Gerhardt-Kirchgemeinde Coschütz-Gittersee. The Auferstehungskirchgemeinde Dresden-Plauen is also a sister. The Annen-Matthäus-Kirchgemeinde Dresden completes the group. The Swedish Kirchgemeinde Kullavik has a partnership with Zionskirche. The Zionskirche is the home church for the Protestant student community in Dresden.
Johannes Hampel, a factory owner, played a crucial role in the Zionskirche history. He bequeathed his fortune to the city of Dresden. He requested that a church be built in Südvorstadt within five years of his death. The foundation stone was laid in 1901. The church received the name Zionskirche.
The original Zionskirche was consecrated on September 29, 1912. It burned down during the air raids in February 1945. The surviving steel bells were given to the Auferstehungskirche. Members of the Protestant student community built a barrack in 1949. It stood next to the ruin and served as a place of worship.
In 1965, the Lutheran World Federation promised to build a church. The Swedish Church would handle construction. The Zionskirche received the property on Bayreuther Straße. The city of Dresden gave the land in exchange for the Zionskirchruine. Rolf Bergk, an architect from Stockholm, designed the new building.
Erik Granbom, a construction manager, oversaw the project. Swedish supervisors and members of the community helped to build the church. The cornerstone was laid on June 5, 1981. The church was completed within 18 months.
Four sandstone relief plates from the old Zionskirche were integrated into the new building. In 1982, the community moved to the new Zionskirche. Bishop Helge Brattgård handed the key to Bishop Johannes Hempel. Hempel then gave it to Pastor Michael Kanig.
The Zionskirchgemeinde maintains a close friendship. They have ongoing visits with the Kullavik community. The original wooden cross was replaced with a durable stainless steel one. Ingrid and Erik Granbom initiated the project for the church’s tenth anniversary.
The Zionskirche Dresden-Südvorstadt stands as a symbol. It represents resilience. It embodies community spirit. It also reflects international partnership. Take a moment to appreciate its understated beauty. Consider the history held within its walls.