Imagine stepping back into a time of turmoil and resilience. Today we find ourselves in front of the Bekenntniskirche. This church is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a symbol of defiance and hope in Berlin.
The Bekenntniskirche stands on Plesser Stra\u00dfe in Alt-Treptow. It serves as the heart of the Berlin-Treptow Protestant parish. The name Bekenntniskirche means Confessing Church. It was chosen to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in 1530.
Let’s journey back to the late 19th century. Treptow was growing fast because of industrialization. Locals struggled to cross the Spree for services. In 1893, a schoolroom became their first worship space. By 1905, Treptow had its own parish. Then in 1911, they built the Kirche Zum Vaterhaus.
But the population kept booming. People in northern Treptow still had a long way to go to church. So, in 1929, the parish bought land on Plesser Stra\u00dfe. The plan was ambitious. It included a second church, a community center, and a parsonage. The cornerstone was laid on August 9, 1930. The dedication happened on August 16, 1931.
Curt Steinberg designed the Bekenntniskirche in the New Objectivity style. He headed the Church Building Office of the Protestant Consistory. The building had to fit into Berlin’s existing block structure. So, the church was built as a multi-functional building. It served as a church, community center, and residence.
Tragedy struck on April 14, 1945. An Allied air raid dropped a bomb. It shattered the altar window. In 1946, Helena Starck redesigned the window. Since 1948, the Bekenntniskirche has been the sole church for the Berlin-Treptow parish.
During the 1980s, under Pastor Werner Hilse, the Bekenntniskirche became a haven. It opened its doors to those oppressed in East Germany. The church hosted peace and labor groups. It was a place for those politically pressured.
In 1988, the underground magazine Kontext began publication here. It covered politics, society, and culture. In 1989, opposition groups formed the B\u00fcrgerbewegung Demokratie. Just before the Berlin Wall fell, the Green Party of East Germany was founded here.
Look closely at the facade. Notice the dark red ceramic plates. See the ornamentation of similar-colored clinker bricks. Twin stair towers with continuous window bands divide the facade into three sections. At the top, you will spot metal crosses atop the bell towers.
Inside, above the main portal, a mosaic displays the church’s name. Other mosaics flank the entrance stairs. To the left, a memorial to World War I victims. To the right, a building inscription.
Inside the Kirchsaal, Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon are depicted in mosaics. They wear scholarly robes and hold Bibles. Above Luther, the title of his hymn, Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott. Above Melanchthon, the words Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn.
The Bekenntniskirche is more than a building. It is a living testament to faith. It is a reminder of courage and community in times of adversity. Take a moment to reflect on the stories held within these walls. They echo through Berlin’s history.