Perhaps surprisingly, the Alte Nazarethkirche in Berlin was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. It stands on Leopoldplatz in the Wedding district. Schinkel designed four churches for Berlin’s suburbs. This is one of them.
The Alte Nazarethkirche gets its name from Nazareth. Nazareth is the birthplace of Jesus. Construction spanned from 1832 to 1835. The church was then dedicated on July 5, 1835.
Schinkel chose a brick construction. It features a round-arch style typical for him. The style incorporates motifs from Upper Italian Romanesque architecture. The building’s exterior reflects the original interior layout. It looks like a strict cube. The facade suggests two stories. Large, upper round-arched windows indicate the location of former galleries. The corner rooms have very small windows.
Friedrich August Stüler planned additions. These included a rectory, a bell tower, and an arcaded walkway. This would be similar to the Johanniskirche in Moabit. However, these plans were never carried out. The Alte Nazarethkirche’s exterior remains almost unchanged.
Eventually, the community outgrew the church. The Neue Nazarethkirche was built. After that, the Alte Nazarethkirche no longer held services. It primarily served for diaconal and catechetical work. In 1906, an intermediate ceiling was added. It was at the height of the galleries. This created an additional floor within the high interior. New round-arched windows improved lighting on the ground floor. Also, an apse walkway was added. This provided space for side rooms.
Between 1972 and 1974, a daycare center was installed on the ground floor of the Alte Nazarethkirche. From 1977 to 1980, the hall on the upper floor was restored. It is now called Schinkel Hall. It is used for services again.
Interestingly, the entrance area may have inspired the Neptun swimming hall in Rostock. The Alte Nazarethkirche has three doors in the round-arch style. It is believed that this served as a model for the swimming hall.
The Alte Nazarethkirche stands as a testament to Schinkel’s architectural vision. It reflects evolving community needs. Its history spans religious services, social work, and architectural inspiration.