Pause for a moment here before the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Kirche. It stands as a testament to faith, resistance, and architectural vision. This church carries a powerful message. The Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Kirche emerged during the Nordweststadt development between 1967 and 1969. Architect Werner W. Neumann designed it. The church is named after Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a key figure in the Confessing Church.
Consider the church’s design. It is a cultural landmark. The Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Kirche lacks a traditional tower and chancel. It presents itself as a flat-roofed cube of exposed concrete. Vertical concrete bands and light slits mark the outer walls. These features provide a unique play of light and shadow.
Enter the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Kirche from the west. You will pass through a foyer. This area now serves as a community room. The church space can accommodate 360 people. The walls consist of brown brickwork. They echo the exterior through vertical projections. Thirty-eight tall window slits filter light. These windows feature lead foil and colored glass pieces. Hermann Goepfert designed them. A round skylight sits above the altar. Sculptural aluminum elements direct light onto the central area.
Notice the altar, baptismal font, and pulpit. They are made of artificial stone. Thomas Zach created concrete reliefs for these. These reliefs reflect Bonhoeffer’s thoughts. For example, the gallery bears the saying “Pray and do the right thing”. The pulpit displays the Bible verse “Open your mouth for the dumb”. This recalls Bonhoeffer’s advocacy. He stood for the persecuted during Nazism. The baptismal font depicts the Last Judgment from the Gospel of Matthew. It includes the quote “I was hungry and thirsty and you gave me food and drink”.
Hear the sounds of the Ott organ. It sits above the entrance on the gallery. The organ was built in 1970. It has ten registers.
The Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Kirche serves multiple purposes. It hosts exhibitions and concerts. The Dietrich-Bonhoeffer congregation formed in 1965. Before the church, a chapel wagon served as a “church on the road”. It served the first residents of Nordweststadt from 1963. The wagon could hold about 80 people. A barrack was dedicated on the future church site on Good Friday 1964.
The Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Gemeinde merged with neighboring congregations in 2020. They formed the Evangelical Church Congregation Frankfurt am Main – Nordwest. The Evangelical Regional Association owns the church. They announced plans to sell it to another congregation in 2023. The Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Gemeinde held its last service here on September 24, 2023. The congregation transferred the church to the Regional Association in 2021. They could no longer afford the upkeep.
Consider the “Engel der Kulturen” project. It symbolizes the peaceful unity of different religions. A ground plate with this symbol was laid near the church in 2019.
The Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Kirche remains a cultural monument. It is protected under Hessian law. It stands not just as a building. It represents community, art, and a commitment to justice.