Journey back to 1922. Picture this a fledgling community seeking spiritual renewal. Die Christengemeinschaft in Kassel was born. It was only a quarter of a year after the main community’s founding in Dornach Switzerland. This Kassel community a beacon of faith built upon the principles of Anthroposophy. It was a unique Christian church independent yet close to Anthroposophy.
The Kassel branch began with careful planning during Advent. Priester Richard Gitzke led the way. He’d lived and worked in Kassel since Easter 1922. On November 14th the first of seven renewed sacraments a marriage was celebrated. The first Menschenweihehandlung a service akin to communion took place in the Schuster family’s home. This space within the Orangerie served as their sanctuary for years.
A significant event occurred from January 2nd to 8th 1924. The first youth conference of Die Christengemeinschaft was held. It took place in the princely riding hall. The theme Christentum und Kultur followed a Christmas conference in Dornach.
Richard Gitzke remained until 1925. Priests followed each with a brief tenure. Only those staying at least seven years are mentioned in the short chronicle. Claus von der Decken arrived in 1931. He served until his death in 1977. During the ban of 1941-1945 he secretly kept the community’s spirit alive. Alfred Schreiber worked alongside him from 1934 until the ban. Later he and Hilmar von Hinüber established children’s and youth activities.
The community utilized various spaces. From 1927 they used the Marmorsaal in the Alte Akademie. A hall on Kölner Straße 54a was used starting in 1937. It was formerly a Freemason lodge banned by the Nazis. In this very hall the 1938 and 1940 synods of Die Christengemeinschaft were held. The 1938 synod appointed Emil Bock as Erzoberlenker the highest leader.
Post-war the community quickly resumed its activities. Services initially returned to members’ homes. Later they moved to barracks and schoolrooms. Karl Schutz joined Claus von der Decken in the autumn of 1945. He stayed until his death in 1973. He notably created his own New Testament translations.
Starting in 1949 they gained their own space on Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 76. The desire for a dedicated church building grew strong. A plot from the Kolbe couple led to the current church on Hansteinstraße 12. This church inaugurated in March 1962 was designed by Klaus Rennert.
Jutta Fischer later Vietor-Fischer arrived in the spring of 1952. She was ordained and became the third member of the priestly college. She deeply influenced community life. In 1976 she led the Hessen region. She was a prominent member of the overall leadership and a frequent lecturer at the Stuttgart seminary. She retired in 1991.
Large conferences resumed in Kassel. These were held for example in August 1955 and at Pentecost 1971 and 1983 in the Stadthalle. The organ was dedicated in 1974. Further buildings were added. The Albert-Kolbe-Heim was built in late 1967. The Waldorf kindergarten in Goetheanlage followed in 1975. Both were legally independent parts of the social work. Die Tenne the community hall was completed in 1988.
The Kassel Treffen an annual meeting began in the autumn of 1974. It started as a gathering of financial officials from West Germany. It later expanded to include all interested individuals from Germany and beyond. Die Fähre a meeting place with artistic craft and educational offerings opened in the autumn of 1982 on Pfeifferstraße 4. Its extensive program concluded with the onset of COVID-19 in 2020.
Die Christengemeinschaft in Kassel is a testament to the enduring spirit of faith and community. It is a vibrant active part of the global movement.