Did you know that the Hermann Wilhelm Bödeker Statue commemorates a man known as Hanover’s most popular benefactor? He was more than just a pastor. Hermann Wilhelm Bödeker was a force for good in this city.
The Hermann Wilhelm Bödeker Statue stands as a tribute to this remarkable man. It is located on the north side of the Marktkirche tower. Carl Dopmeyer created this monument.
Hermann Wilhelm Bödeker was born in Osnabrück on May 15 1799. He died in Hanover on January 5 1875. Bödeker studied theology at the University of Göttingen from 1817 to 1823. In 1825 he became the second pastor at Marktkirche in Hanover. He became the first pastor in 1839. In 1851 Bödeker became Senior of the spiritual city ministry. This role is similar to today’s city superintendent.
Bödeker founded many social foundations and charitable associations. These included the Kinderheilanstalt Hannover. Today it is the Children’s Hospital on the Bult. He also founded an asylum for poor aging middle-class women. This later became the Schwesternhaus. Bödeker also started the Bödekerkrippe a daycare association.
Bödeker had a talent for collecting donations for charitable causes. He founded the Norddeutscher Morgenpromenadenbeförderungsverein. This was a group of people from different social classes. They met regularly at Lister Turm or Neues Haus.
In 1854 Bödeker had 15 cast-iron Bödeker angels made. Georg Hurtzig designed them. They were cast in the Lauterberger Königshütte. These angels were placed around the city. They encouraged people to donate. Three of these angels are in the Hanoverian city cemeteries of Stöcken Engesohde and Kirchrode. A fourth angel is in the St. Andreas Church in Bad Lauterberg.
People nicknamed Bödeker “Reichsfechtmeister”. This translates to “Imperial Fencing Master”. He earned this name because of his ability to collect large sums of money. “Fencing” was the term used for collecting donations.
Hanover made Bödeker an honorary citizen in 1848. Bödeker also campaigned against animal cruelty. He wrote a brochure about it in 1844. This led to the founding of the Animal Welfare Association of the Royal Residence City of Hanover.
The Hermann Wilhelm Bödeker Statue reminds us of his tireless work. Bödeker’s legacy lives on in the many institutions he founded and the lives he touched. His commitment to helping others continues to inspire. The community hall of the Marktkirche is also named after Bödeker. His honorary grave is located in the Engesohde city cemetery in Hanover. A street in Hanover the Bödekerstrasse has been named in his honor since 1873. Take a moment to appreciate the impact one person can have on a city.