Have you ever heard of the Katholisch-Apostolische Gemeinde in Augsburg? This is it, right in front of you. Founded in 1863, it’s a little-known corner of religious history.
It is one of the many religious communities that rose out of the Protestant Reformation. These churches believed in a “second apostolate” – a revival of apostolic authority after the Reformation. They claimed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, and they even believed that they would usher in the “second coming” of Christ.
What makes this particular community unique is its connection to the Thiersch family. Heinrich Thiersch, a former theology professor in Marburg, led the South German Catholic Apostolic communities from Augsburg between 1869 and 1875. His son, August Thiersch, built the chapel in 1871/72. It was a classic example of the “nachklassizistisch” style, which was popular in Germany at the time.
The chapel was severely damaged in World War II. However, it has been rebuilt since then. The Katholisch-Apostolische Gemeinde is still active today, though dwindling in number – it only had 20 members in 1994. It’s a fascinating remnant of a movement that once had deep roots in Germany.