Dorfkirche Lichtenrade

Amidst the gentle tranquility of Berlin’s Lichtenrade district, the Dorfkirche Lichtenrade stands as a testament to time. The church’s history intertwines with the very fabric of Lichtenrade, a village first mentioned in 1375. The Dorfkirche Lichtenrade isn’t just a place of worship. It’s a historical landmark, a community hub, and a window into Berlin’s rich past. The present structure, a rectangular hall, echoes the architectural style of the Dorfkirche Mariendorf and Dorfkirche Marienfelde, all constructed from sturdy fieldstones. Originally, the church featured pointed arch windows, which were later bricked up in 1769. This alteration was made to allow for larger windows, improving the light within the church for reading hymnals after the Reformation in Brandenburg. The Dorfkirche Lichtenrade, unlike its counterparts in Mariendorf and Marienfelde, isn’t a Templar church. While those churches were built by the Templar Order on their land in the mid-13th century, the Dorfkirche Lichtenrade was erected about 50 years later and follows a different architectural layout. A unique feature of the Dorfkirche Lichtenrade is its turbulent tower history. During the Middle Ages, the church likely stood without a tower. A timber-framed structure, clad with boards, served as a roof tower from around 1660. However, this was removed in 1810 due to its dilapidated state. Only in 1902 did a new, square tower, designed by Georg Schwartzkopff, grace the church. Constructed from fieldstones, this tower also housed the vestibule. Its high stature and elaborate octagonal slate spire, flanked by four smaller spires, were unusual for a village church. This ambitious project, championed by the local pastor, Klein, was so costly that it earned the disapproval of district administrator Ernst von Stubenrauch. He dismissed it as “Klein’s megalomania.” Despite the criticism, the tower was built, only to be destroyed during World War II. The current, simpler saddle roof replaced the destroyed tower in 1949. Today, the Dorfkirche Lichtenrade holds three bronze bells, each with its own story etched into its metal. The oldest bell, cast in 1867 by Carl Voß, tells of its recasting after the tower’s destruction by lightning. A small cemetery surrounds the church, much like the cemeteries in Mariendorf and Marienfelde. The adjacent Giebelpfuhl, Berlin’s largest village pond, adds a touch of picturesque charm. Every year, on the first Sunday of Advent, the area around the church and pond transforms into a magical Christmas market, enchanting visitors of all ages. The Dorfkirche Lichtenrade is more than just a building. It’s a living narrative woven into the heart of Lichtenrade.