“Auguste Victoria” wasn’t just a name. It was the name of one of the three bells that once rang out from the tower of Bethanien-Kirche. This church stands as a testament to Berlin’s history.
Bethanien-Kirche was built in Berlin-Weissensee between 1900 and 1902. The population boom in Neu-Weissensee necessitated its construction. Ludwig von Tiedemann and Robert Leibnitz designed it in the neo-Gothic style. Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiserin Auguste Victoria attended its inauguration on October 26 1902. One of the church’s three bells was named “Auguste Victoria” in her honor.
Oberhofmeister von Mirbach and composer Theodor Krause inspected the bells in July 1902. Gustav Kuntzsch crafted the carved altar and pulpit in Wernigerode. Otto Plöger from Alt-Berlin created the stone pulpit base. The original high altar was moved to the Glaubenskirche in Berlin-Lichtenberg in 1905. Bethanien-Kirche then received a new smaller altar. E. F. Walcker & Cie delivered the organ in 1902. It had two manuals a pedal and 26 registers.
During World War II Bethanien-Kirche suffered near-total destruction. Only the damaged 65-meter-high tower remained. It still held the original bells.
Fast forward to 2001. Architect Bernd Bötzel from Wuppertal presented ideas for repurposing the Bethanien-Kirche ruin. He envisioned luxury apartments within the renovated church and rebuilt tower. He presented his ideas to the Pankow district office and the historic preservation authorities. In May 2020 they approved the project. A Berlin buyer signed the purchase agreement on January 18 2021. He planned to live in the large tower apartment with his family. Construction began in autumn 2021. The goal was completion by summer 2023. Some trees were removed for construction but were replaced with new plantings. This secured the landmark’s future.
Concrete construction preparations started in May 2022. These included securing the ruin with metal supports and clamps. The interior was renovated. Extensions were added. Ultimately 17 high-quality apartments were created some as lofts.
The Mirbachplatz is named after Ernst Freiherr von Mirbach. He helped finance the church’s construction. The church was visible from all approaching streets. The imposing tower with its square base dominates. It is clad in sand-lime brick. The entrance area features a pointed arch portal. Above the tower shaft is the belfry. It has brickwork and arched sound openings. A four-sided gable sits atop the belfry. A longitudinal gable roof supports a copper roof rider.
The tower originally housed three cast steel bells. The Bochumer Verein cast them in the late 1890s. The bell ensemble cost 7891 marks to produce.
The bells remain. Plans include partial reactivation after the conversion to apartments. Noise-reducing features will be installed.
Bethanien’s community center stands southeast of the square. It is located at the corner of Max-Steinke-Strasse and Pistoriusstrasse. Built in 1908 in the domestic style it suffered little damage during the war. It continues to serve religious purposes. The portal is richly decorated with sculptures in Romanesque forms.
So the next time you hear bells ringing in Weissensee remember the story of Bethanien-Kirche. It is a tale of faith destruction and rebirth.