Imagine, if you will, red bricks speaking volumes. Those very bricks form the Alte Laatzener Kapelle. This is Laatzen’s oldest building. It stands as the southernmost example of North German Brick Gothic architecture.
The Alte Laatzener Kapelle has a story etched in its very stones. This house of worship is located at Alte Rathausstraße 40. It belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Parish. That parish is part of the Laatzen-Springe church district. The district itself falls under the Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Hanover.
Records first mention the Alte Laatzener Kapelle in 1325. By 1529, it became an Evangelical church. During World War II, disaster struck. In 1943, the chapel burned to the ground. Only the foundation remained. However, the community rebuilt it. The reconstruction occurred in 1953 and 1954. The builders kept the original design. The exceptions were the windows and the roof lantern. The Alte Laatzener Kapelle was rededicated on March 21, 1954.
The Alte Laatzener Kapelle is a gem of brickwork. Post-war reconstruction stayed true to the original. Still, the interior saw changes from the 14th-century design. A flat wooden ceiling became a wooden barrel vault. The altar window shows Christ’s resurrection. It dates back to 1954. The church bell also from 1954. To this day, people ring it by hand. Siegfried Zimmermann created the church’s liturgical tools.
Unlike other churches in the area, the Alte Laatzener Kapelle is special. Other churches use fieldstone, timber framing, or wood. This one proudly displays its Brick Gothic style.
Back then the municipality financed itself by leasing two acres of land. All community members helped with major repairs. The Reformation reached Laatzen in 1529. The Thirty Years’ War damaged the chapel. It needed repairs. A bomb during World War II destroyed the building. Only the outer walls remained.
Reconstruction began in 1953. The flat wooden ceiling was replaced. Also the gallery on the north side was removed. On March 21, 1954, they rededicated the building.
Outside, the Alte Laatzener Kapelle features red brick. The corners, base, and window frames consist of sandstone. The small window in the east gable shows Gothic elements. This window dates back to the original construction. Look for the interesting heads on each side of the entrance. Today, couples often hold weddings in this small chapel.
The story of the Alte Laatzener Kapelle illustrates community. Even after war destroyed it, they rebuilt it. They cherish this historical treasure. The Alte Laatzener Kapelle is not just a building. It is a symbol of Laatzen’s enduring spirit.