Evangelisches Gemeindezentrum Hellersdorf

Whispers echoed through the newly built apartments of Hellersdorf in 1985. A new community was forming, centered around the arrival of Pastor Hartmut Wittig. He was tasked with establishing the Evangelisches Gemeindezentrum Hellersdorf. The initial meetings were intimate, held in various homes throughout the burgeoning socialist housing development. These house circles became the heart of the growing congregation. By January 1st, 1987, the Evangelisches Gemeindezentrum Hellersdorf officially became a Kirchengemeinde, a recognized church community. Two small rooms in a new apartment building served as their first official space. Initially, they shared services with the Kaulsdorf community in their historic village church. The need for their own space grew with the community. The Evangelisches Gemeindezentrum Hellersdorf began to take shape in the mind of Berlin architect, Heinz Tellbach. His vision of an octagonal central structure crowned with a shallow tent roof began to materialize. However, the actual groundbreaking didn’t occur until October 9, 1990, a time of significant change in Germany. The reunification of East and West Germany brought new challenges, requiring recalculations and revised plans. Despite the upheaval, the construction progressed. The cornerstone was laid, the framework rose, and on October 13, 1991, the Evangelisches Gemeindezentrum Hellersdorf opened its doors. Over 500 members and guests celebrated the inauguration. The heart of the Evangelisches Gemeindezentrum Hellersdorf is the sanctuary. Softly tinted stained-glass windows illuminate the altar, baptismal font, and ambo. These windows draw the eye to a large wooden cross, a symbol of faith at the center of the space. Later, in 1994, a magnificent organ with two manuals, a pedal, eleven registers, and 699 pipes filled the sanctuary with music. The organ was crafted by Mecklenburger Orgelbau, adding another layer of richness to the worship experience. The sounds of worship extend beyond the walls of the Evangelisches Gemeindezentrum Hellersdorf with the addition of three bells. Two, on loan from the Erlöserkirche, were cast in 1930 and hang in a freestanding wooden bell tower. The third and largest bell was cast to commemorate the community’s tenth anniversary, a testament to the enduring spirit of the Evangelisches Gemeindezentrum Hellersdorf.