The iron cross atop Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche gleams. It’s a modern church yet steeped in history.
Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche in Bonn’s Bad Godesberg district isn’t ancient. It was built in 1964. The community it serves formed in 1957. Many newcomers arrived then. Bonn expanded as the new government seat.
The church’s dedication was on March 28 1965. Its name refers to a nearby historical wayside cross. That 14th-century cross had a replica made. The original resides in the Rhineland Museum Bonn.
Architects Stefan Leuer and Willi Zachert designed Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche. Its nave is rectangular. It’s built of red brick. Symmetrical gables frame the entrance. A semicircular apse is opposite. The steeply pitched roof extends low at the sides.
Inside Sepp Hürten and Paul Magar crafted the interior. A striking 18th-century altar cross is a highlight. An unpainted undated Pietà is also present. Johannes Klais Orgelbau’s organ Opus 1473 was installed in 1972.
The bell tower stands separate. Built in 1967 it has six stories. It is topped with a flat gable roof. Five bells hang within. They were cast by Mabilon in 1984. Their names evoke saints and biblical figures.
Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche is more than just a building. It’s a testament to a community’s growth. It reflects Bonn’s transformation as a government center. The church remains a vital part of the neighborhood. The building itself is a powerful symbol of faith. Its very existence is a story of adaptation and perseverance. Its modern design is juxtaposed against the historical cross it is named for. It’s a unique place that quietly tells a captivating tale.