Did you know that the Auferstehungskirche in Düsseldorf-Oberkassel is more than just a church? It’s an architectural statement. It points toward the brick architecture of the 1920s.
The Auferstehungskirche stands at the corner of Arnulfstrasse and Quirinstrasse. Architects Verheyen and Stobbe designed it. They built it between 1913 and 1914. The Auferstehungskirche is now a protected historical monument.
Back then, combining church, parish house, community hall, and administration into one complex was new. The Auferstehungskirche uses exposed brick with natural stone. All the buildings have green tiled roofs. This creates a unified look.
Notice the church’s hall-like design with galleries. It features a high baroque-style gable. Look for the Art Nouveau ornaments. The octagonal tower with its trumpet gallery stands out. Traditionally, musicians play from the tower on Christmas Eve at midnight.
Inside the Auferstehungskirche, you’ll find the Europa-Orgel “Felix Mendelssohn”. The organ was built in 2004 by W. Sauer Orgelbau. It features diverse registers from different European regions. These registers support various musical styles.
Unusually, the organ includes a saxophone 8′, a Blues-Quarte II, and a Guarneri-Terz. There is also a “Kawalflöte 4′,” inspired by the Balkans. The Auferstehungskirche’s organ commemorates Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. He was Düsseldorf’s music director from 1833 to 1835. Mendelssohn shaped the city’s musical life.
The Europa-Orgel has 65 registers. These are spread across three manuals and a pedal. It uses mechanical slider chests. It also has mechanical and electrical action for keys and registers. The organ is fully MIDI-compatible. This allows recording and playback. It also connects to a PC. A mobile console was added in 2019.
The Auferstehungskirche isn’t the only church of the congregation. The Philippus-Kirche was deconsecrated on September 29, 2019. Since then, all services take place in the Auferstehungskirche. The Philippus-Kirche community center still hosts events.
The Auferstehungskirche represents architectural innovation. It combines different elements into a harmonious whole. It has a rich musical tradition thanks to its unique organ.