Perhaps you would never guess that beneath this serene church lies a fascinating history. Welcome to the Kirche Altstetten. It is a place where echoes of the past resonate with the present.
Before 1934, Altstetten was its own municipality. It had its own distinct identity. The earliest settlement on this church hill dates back to Roman times. Archeological digs unearthed ruins of a Roman villa. They also found remains of two Romanesque churches. Imagine the layers of history beneath our feet here at Kirche Altstetten.
The Alte Kirche Zuerich-Altstetten stands above these remnants. Its tower choir hails from the late Gothic era. The nave was rebuilt in 1418. It was then lengthened in 1761 and 1842.
In the early 20th century, population growth spurred the need for a new church. By the 1930s, services had to be held three times on holidays. There was a lack of space for activities beyond worship. The community decided to build a new church.
However, the plan to demolish the old church met resistance. The Heimatschutz, the Zurich government council, and some architects opposed it. Werner Max Moser designed the new Kongresshaus. His project won and was chosen for realization.
Construction began in 1939. By 1941, the new church center was inaugurated. It was renovated for the first time in 2011.
The Kirche Altstetten is now a significant example of classical modern reformed church architecture. Its location offers contrasts. To the northeast is Lindenplatz. It is the urban center of Altstetten. Southwest of the church lies one of the city’s few remaining agricultural areas.
The Kirche Altstetten has a modern design. Churches traditionally needed only a worship space, a classroom, and a parsonage. In the 20th century, the need for social, cultural, and office spaces grew. This demanded larger sacred complexes. The Kirche Altstetten is an early example of this shift.
Below the church is a theater hall with a kitchen. The west wing houses community rooms, classrooms, and offices.
The slender tower rises beside the main entrance. Its polygonal shape breaks from traditional church tower designs. The porch with its rounded roof rests on simple columns. It is also a modern element. The tower and a concrete screen wall flank the entrance of Kirche Altstetten.
Inside, the church center has many offices and community rooms. Some rooms are named after reformers. The Bullinger Room is behind the gallery. The Zwingli Room and café are on the community wing’s upper floor. The Luther Room and Calvin Chamber are on the mezzanine.
The divisible hall with a stage and kitchen is below the church. Thanks to the hill, windows light the hall from the southwest side. Note the consistent designs of the railings, lamps, and doors. Even the washbasins have unique tiled designs. Inclined concrete pillars in the hall support the church space above. They also serve an aesthetic function in the Kirche Altstetten.
Three large doors form the main portal. They lead into a small vestibule and then the long church space. A ceiling-high window divides the space. The ceiling arches creating two spaces not divided by pillars. A staircase leads to the gallery.
The raised liturgical area is dominated by a wooden cross. A carved relief reads: “One is your master, but all of you are brothers.” A relief shows two people. One extends a hand. The other hand can be interpreted as the hand of God.
In the center is the communion table. To its left is the wood-paneled pulpit. Below it is the baptismal font. It is engraved with fish, a dove, and a lamb. These are important Christian symbols. A fish adorns the copper lid. To the right stands the organ with exposed pipes. Beside the organ is an entrance to the community wing.
In 1941, the Kirche Altstetten received its organ from Metzler Orgelbau. It has 48 registers on three manuals and a pedal. The five-part peal of bells was made in 1940. Their tones form the beginning of the Easter Hallelujah.
As you leave the Kirche Altstetten, consider its layered past. It evolved from Roman settlements to a modern church center. The church is a testament to Altstetten’s growth and change.