A magnificent church stands before you. This is the Nazarethkirche in Hanover. It’s a place steeped in history. A testament to faith and resilience.
The Nazarethkirche wasn’t always as you see it today. Its story began in 1901. The church council of St Marien Garden Church purchased land. This was at the corner of Krausenstrasse and Sallstrasse. A parsonage was built in 1904-1905. Pastor Uhden the third pastor of the Garden Church community moved in. That same year architect Otto Luer won a competition. He was commissioned to design the church itself.
Construction began on June 25 1905. The church was consecrated on April 1 1907. It was Easter Sunday. The building was a simple neo-Romanesque style. It boasted a 70-meter-high tower. Pastor Karl Uhden gave the church its name.
The Nazarethkirche initially stood on the city’s edge. It was surrounded by greenery. Over time Hanover expanded southward. Sadly during World War II. The parsonage tower baptistery and sacristy were destroyed. This happened during a major air raid on October 8-9 1943. The main church building however survived largely intact.
The parsonage and community house were rebuilt. They were reopened on June 11 1955. The partially rebuilt and redesigned church was reconsecrated on the first Sunday of Advent in 1958.
In 2009 the Nazareth community merged with neighboring congregations. These were Athanasius and Paulus forming the Sudstadt church community. Four years later the Athanasius church closed.
A columbarium was dedicated in late 2013. It is located in the north aisle. It is separated from the main nave by glass walls. This columbarium offers 672 burial spaces. The names of the deceased are inscribed on the graves. The resting period is 20 years. This can be extended. After the resting period urns are interred in the church tower.
The Nazarethkirche’s organ is a remarkable instrument. Built in 1961 by Karl Schuke in Berlin. It has 38 stops on three manuals and pedal. The action is mechanical. The register action is electric.
Another special feature is the English organ. Consecrated on Epiphany Day January 6 2019. It was built in 1902 by Forster & Andrews. It was originally in Llandudno Wales. After a journey to Germany it eventually found its home in the Nazarethkirche. It was restored and extended by Forster & Nicolaus and Orgelbau Reinhard Hufken. This late-romantic instrument with mechanical tracker action boasts 31 stops across three manuals and pedal.
The Nazarethkirche stands not just as a beautiful building. It stands as a living testament to faith community and the enduring spirit of Hanover.