Woven into Bergen’s history is the tale of the Laurentiuskirche. This baroque church stands as a testament to faith and resilience. It is a cultural landmark in Frankfurt.
In medieval times, Bergen lacked its own parish. Instead, it was part of the Kirchberger parish with Enkheim and Seckbach. The largest church in eastern Frankfurt was a Gothic building near Bergen and Enkheim. Historical reports state that it was demolished around the mid-18th century.
The Schelme family of Bergen had their own chapel. This Gothic Hubertuskapelle stood at the corner of Marktstrasse and Steingasse. The Schelme family embraced the Reformation. They even offered their chapel to Bergen’s Lutheran Christians for a time. Sadly, a fire destroyed the building in the mid-16th century.
Bergen originally belonged to the County of Hanau-Münzenberg. In 1597, it became Reformed. In 1642, the County of Hanau-Münzenberg fell to the County of Hanau-Lichtenberg. The counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg were Lutheran. Lutheran congregations formed again in Hanau-Münzenberg. The Lutherans in Bergen had no church. So, they held services in the town hall until they built their own church. The Kirchberger and Enkheim churches remained Reformed.
A site within the former town fortifications was chosen for the new Bergen church. Construction began in 1683. The Laurentiuskirche was inaugurated on August 10, 1684. It was dedicated to Saint Lawrence. A temporary tower was replaced with a 29-meter-high stone facade tower between 1741 and 1743. In the early 19th century, the Lutheran and Reformed churches united.
Renovations in 1912 raised the walls by 50 cm. The windows were also altered. Air raids in March 1944 damaged the building. After the war, it was repaired. A community center was built nearby from 1960 to 1962. It provided direct access to the Laurentiuskirche. In 1966, a new ceiling was installed. The west gallery was lowered. The altar area was covered with sandstone. The interior was repainted.
The Bergen-Enkheim Evangelical Church is unique. It is Frankfurt’s only state Protestant church community. It belongs to the Hanau Church District of the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck.
The plastered baroque church features a stone facade tower with a cupola to the west. The four-story tower is topped with a slate-covered helmet. A ball, cross, and weather vane adorn the two-story tower roof. Seven windows line the nave with its polygonal chancel. Inside, the three-sided gallery and the historic organ case stand out. The organ case is located in the east above the altar.
Most of the furnishings date back to the church’s construction. The pulpit from 1684 features a basket resting on a herm. The herm possibly represents Moses. Carved wooden panels make up the elders’ choir stalls on three sides of the chancel.
The organ case with musical angels was created in 1695. In 1912, Ratzmann installed an organ. G. F. Steinmeyer & Co. replaced it in 1967. The current organ has two manuals and 22 stops. Andreas Schmidt renovated and rebuilt it in 1994.
The Bergen church has four bells. Two bells were confiscated in both World Wars, in 1917 and 1942. The bells bear inscriptions. They serve as a reminder of faith, peace and remembrance.
As you stand here before the Laurentiuskirche, consider its story. Think of the generations who have sought solace and inspiration within its walls. This church remains a beacon of hope in Bergen.