Can you see the resemblance to a large fish? This is Sankt Erich. It is a unique church in Hamburg’s Rothenburgsort. Sankt Erich replaced St. Josef. St. Josef was destroyed in World War II. The new church was built between 1961 and 1963. Reinhard Hofbauer, a Berlin architect, designed it.
Sankt Erich’s bell tower dominates the cityscape. You can spot it from afar. Look closely when riding the S-Bahn. Notice it between Berliner Tor and Rothenburgsort stations. It is also visible between Hammerbrook and Elbbrücken.
Inside Sankt Erich, you will find an open space. The church’s design reflects ideas from the Second Vatican Council. These architectural ideas came about between 1962 and 1965.
Rudolf von Beckerath Orgelbau built an organ for the church in 1969. The organ has two manuals and 21 registers. Sadly, the main church area has been closed since 2019. This is due to structural issues.
Sankt Erich has a special connection to Scandinavia. Its patron saint is Saint Erik. He was a Swedish king from 1150 to 1160. This choice honors Hamburg’s long ties to Scandinavia. These ties date back to the Christianization period. John Edward Taylor, the Swedish Bishop of Stockholm, consecrated Sankt Erich after its completion.
Otto Scholz was the first pastor. He and his congregation maintained close links with St. Lars Church in Uppsala. The ceiling inside Sankt Erich is shaped like honeycombs. It features the blue and yellow colors of the Swedish flag. Another church nearby, St. Olaf, also reminds us of Hamburg’s bond with Scandinavia.
Sankt Erich belongs to the Archdiocese of Hamburg. It stopped being an independent parish in 2005. Instead, it became part of the St. Marien parish. Regular services are no longer held in Sankt Erich. They stopped due to the Corona pandemic. Before that, services took place in the side chapel. This was after the main area closed in November 2019. The closure was because of building damage.
Konstantin Manthey admired Sankt Erich. He considered it one of Reinhard Hofbauer’s masterpieces. Hofbauer’s churches in Berlin were destroyed. Only St. Judas Thaddäus in Tempelhof remains. Sankt Erich stands as a testament to his architectural skill.
The previous St. Josef Church was different. It was a neo-Gothic brick building with a roof turret. Bombs destroyed it in 1943. The new Sankt Erich was built about 800-1000 meters away. It took on the patronage of the Swedish King Erich.
The interior boasts a remarkable structure without pillars. The original colors of the 1960s are still visible. You can also find authentic furnishings from that era. Yellow dominates the altar area. A textile Stations of the Cross reminds one of Scandinavian monastery work. A blue coffered concrete ceiling adds to the unique design. The altar area receives light from a round skylight above. A heavy eternal light hangs from it adorned with crystals. It is believed that Hofbauer designed both the light and the tabernacle.
The current community room used to be a winter church and side chapel. Its structure mirrors that of the main church. This room is now used for secular purposes. The former community areas have been turned into a supermarket. Sankt Erich stands as a testament to Hamburg’s history. It is a unique blend of architectural styles and Scandinavian connections.