Ever wondered how a church can be both rustic and modern? Here at the Franz-von-Assisi-Kirche, you see exactly that. This isn’t just any church. It is a unique blend of architectural styles.
The Franz-von-Assisi-Kirche is a Lutheran church in Hamburg’s Neuallermöhe district. It stands where Ebner-Eschenbach-Weg meets the central Grachtenplatz. Its construction ties into the development of Neu-Allermöhe Ost and West in the 1980s and 1990s. The goal was to create a building that fit into the architectural context while making its own statement.
Construction began in 1991 after the community had been meeting in a construction trailer since 1986. Architect Nils Roderjan designed the church. It was completed and dedicated on October 3, 1993. The 40-meter-high copper-clad spire was transported from Segeberg to Bergedorf. A crane then lifted it onto the brick base. Now, the spire acts as a visible landmark. The red brick gives the Franz-von-Assisi-Kirche a rustic yet modern feel. Large windows add airiness and transparency.
Inside the Franz-von-Assisi-Kirche, different rooms serve different purposes. The main church space includes the altar and seating. It can expand into the large foyer. There are also five group rooms. A chapel in the tower offers a space for quiet prayer. You’ll also find offices, kitchens, and a workshop.
Near the entrance, notice the boulder. It serves as the foundation stone. The church’s supporting walls rise from it in a spiral. This symbolizes Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of faith. Smaller stones bear the names of community members who lived in Neuallermöhe when construction began.
Look for a tiny devil’s head. It is wedged between a wall and the roof on the church’s northeast corner. It symbolizes that evil exists but its power is limited.
The Franz-von-Assisi-Kirche received three bronze bells in 2000. They came from the Rincker foundry. In 2022, the church gained protected monument status.
Inside, you’ll see a replica of a cross from San Damiano. That is a church near Assisi. Saint Francis received his calling to reform the church before the original cross. The cross shows both Jesus’ suffering and the light of resurrection.
The altar faces east towards Jerusalem. The wall behind it is curved and simple white. This design choice avoids limiting the meaning of Jesus with a single image.
The baptismal font and lectern hang from steel cables. They symbolize the connection between heaven and earth. Both are needed for balance. Instead of pews, the Franz-von-Assisi-Kirche uses chairs in a semicircle. They face the altar and allow visitors to see each other.
The “Window of Mercy” stands out in the altar area. It came from St. Nikolai Church. That church was destroyed during Operation Gomorrah. The windows were removed in 1939. They were stored in the Michel’s cellars. The windows survived the war undamaged. St. Nikolai gave the restored window to the Franz-von-Assisi-Kirche.
The window shows church towers reaching to the sky. Angels watch over people. One angel holds a banner with the words: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” A man and a woman approach Jesus. He extends his hand to them. The door in the background is open with the key still in it. The way to God is open. An angel holds a Bible verse. It reads: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The coat of arms of Paul’s marriage is below left. They donated the window in 1884.
The small organ sits on the gallery. It lacks a decorative facade. Alfred Führer Orgelbau built it in 1963. It first stood in the University Hospital Eppendorf. It moved to St. Martinus Church in Eppendorf in 1974.
So, as you leave the Franz-von-Assisi-Kirche, remember its blend of styles. Think about its symbols and its history. This is more than just a building. It is a testament to community, faith, and history.