Clangorous echoes resonate from a bygone era. Those echoes whisper stories from the Evangelische Kirche Lünen-Süd.
Here before us stands the Evangelische Kirche Lünen-Süd. It stands as a testament to faith and community. Its history is intertwined with the growth of this region. It began long before its official founding. The name “Preußen” gives us a hint. It points to the origins of this community.
In the late 19th century mining boomed. Young people flocked here. They sought work and new lives. Many came from East and West Prussia. Others journeyed from Silesia, Austria-Hungary and Holland. Their family names still echo in the region today. The first wave of settlers arrived around the turn of the century. A second followed after World War I. A third wave came after World War II. This time, foreign workers joined the mix. Mines like Preußen I, Preußen II, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst offered abundant jobs.
The Harpener Bergbau AG cared for its workers. It built “colonies” and social facilities. The future Evangelische Kirche Lünen-Süd benefited too. The company donated building funds and land for the church.
Initially, the people belonged to churches in Brechten, Kirchderne and Lünen. But the population grew rapidly. A new religious center became essential. The Supreme Church Council in Berlin initiated the founding of a new parish. It would be named Preußen.
In 1905 the Preußen parish was established. Plans for a church soon followed. The cornerstone was laid on June 9, 1907. The church was dedicated on December 6, 1908. By then, about 3500 people belonged to the parish. Reverend Mendel had much to do. In 1908 there were 186 baptisms, 80 confirmations, 37 weddings and 63 funerals.
World War I disrupted the church’s peaceful growth. Many men were drafted. Heartbreaking farewells took place. The pastor wrote about people seeking solace in Holy Communion. Some even asked him to celebrate the sacrament. They did so one last time with their loved ones. By the end of 1915, 35 of the 300 soldiers from the parish had fallen.
After the November Revolution in 1918 troops were quartered in the parish. Politically turbulent years followed. The church suffered. On Good Friday 1920 Lünen-Süd became a battlefield. South German Reichswehr troops drove out communists. Then came inflation and the French occupation of the Ruhr. The boundary ran through the parish.
The closure of the Preußen I and II mines deeply affected the community. Many parishioners suffered hardship. Despite economic struggles the parish built a community center. The cornerstone was laid on December 21, 1930. It was dedicated on November 8, 1931.
The Nazi era brought more hardship. Initially, some hoped for better times. But disillusionment grew. When the German Christians tried to gain a foothold here loyal parishioners resisted. The church council stood with the Confessing Church. They defended the church against erosion.
During World War II many men were drafted again. This included the pastor. Suffering increased and many died. The parish chronicle ends with a plea. It asks that God turn this time of suffering into a blessing. May it purify the community into a fellowship of faith and love.
In 1947 Pastor Dahlhaus arrived. During his tenure war damage to church buildings was repaired. In 1948 the church was restored. It had been badly damaged in the 1943 air raid. The interior was redesigned from 1951 to 1953. After the hardship a new beginning came. In 1954 a second parish was established. This was due to the growing number of parishioners.
October 29, 1960 marked a shift. The first service in Gahmen took place. It was held in the Harkort School. A new community center was built there too. It opened on April 4, 1964. That year a third parish was created for Gahmen.
After a period without pastors, Pastors Siebel, Nottebaum and Müller arrived. In 1970 the church underwent a major renovation. Altar, pulpit and baptismal font were redesigned in light oak. The church gained a new look.
The Evangelische Kirche Lünen-Süd continues to serve. It offers solace, community and spiritual guidance. The church stands as a beacon of hope. It shines brightly in Lünen-Süd.