“A ship of special kind” is what some call the Bethanienkirche. Today, we explore this unique church. Bethanienkirche stands as Frankfurt’s first church rebuilt after World War II. Its story is one of necessity, community, and architectural innovation.
The name Bethanienkirche comes from the biblical village Bethany. Bethany was the home of Lazarus. This church forms a small center with a daycare, school, and police station. It serves the northwestern part of the Frankfurter Berg settlement.
Let’s step back to the late 1940s. The residents of Frankfurter Berg belonged to Bonames parish. Bonames was three kilometers away. In 1947, the Bethanien community broke away. It had about 1,200 members. They needed their own church. Post-war years were marked by scarcity. The community sought help from the Evangelical Relief Organization. The organization included the community in its emergency church program. Worldwide donations funded the construction of over forty churches.
Architect Otto Bartning designed these “Notkirchen” or emergency churches. For Bethanienkirche, they chose Type A. The design was implemented with Frankfurt’s Evangelical Church Association. Bethanienkirche is unique. It’s the only pure realization of Bartning’s vaulted roof design. Other Type A churches, like the one in Emden, had gabled roofs. Bartning designed the Notkirchen as simple wooden structures with brick infills. Community members contributed to building Bethanienkirche. They first built the foundation themselves. The cornerstone was laid in August 1948. Wood components arrived from Switzerland in October. Engineer E. Staudacher designed them. The topping-out ceremony was in November. On Easter Sunday 1949, the church was consecrated. Frankfurt Provost, Pastor Goebels, officiated. The bell tower was completed in 1957. The sacristy followed in 1958.
Notice the simple, bright architecture. The distinguishing feature is its pitched barrel roof. This roof shape is visible on the gable ends and inside. The roof’s trusses resemble Gothic arches. Some say they look like an upside-down ship hull. The wooden support structure divides the interior. Wall-like prefabricated elements form side aisles. The roof rests on these.
Untreated wood dominates the interior. Load-bearing components and wall coverings are wood. This gives the interior a warm gold tone. It also provides good acoustics. Bartning placed the entrance on the side. This is not the usual central placement. The unassuming entrance is between the church and the tower. This design choice was theological. Upon entering, you see the congregation first. Only then do you notice the altar and cross.
At the rear is an organ loft. The pews are accessible from the side. There is no center aisle. The Bethanienkirche seats about 300 people. Simple windows provide daylight. Colored glass decorates a rosette in the gable wall. The painter Hans Heinrich Adam designed this round window in 1965. Blue and red glass form a cross. Original light fixtures from 1949 remain. Bartning designed them. They feature a shape that resembles an “8”. This is a reference to biblical numerology. The altar cross was Bartning’s gift to the community.
The original 1949 organ was replaced in 1995. Johannus, an organ builder, created the new instrument. Four bells made in 1957 ring in F sharp, A, B, and C sharp. The Bethanienkirche is a protected monument. In April 2024, the community celebrated the church’s 75th anniversary. Joe Bennick, Otto Bartning’s great-grandson, attended. He is a singer-songwriter. Bennick shared stories about his great-grandfather. He also led a tour of the church.
Bethanienkirche is more than a building. It represents hope and community. Its unique design reflects a time of rebuilding and renewal. As we leave, remember the Bethanienkirche. It is a testament to simple beauty and lasting faith.