Ever wondered about a church reborn from the ashes of war? That is the story of St. Laurentius Kirche in Berlin-Moabit. It stands on Bandelstraße. The church is dedicated to Saint Lawrence of Rome. He was a martyr.
The St. Laurentius parish emerged in 1910. It was created to relieve the Dominicans. They were from St. Paulus. They had been caring for almost 30,000 Catholics. After separating from St. Sebastian parish, the Laurentius community included 12,000 souls.
In 1913, Wilhelm Frydag designed a three-aisled basilica. It was built as a side wing in the courtyard. Its neo-Baroque style was rare at the time. The outer architecture hinted at modernism. The parish was officially established in 1921.
Tragedy struck in 1943 during World War II. Allied air raids destroyed the church. The new Laurentius Kirche was rebuilt in 1952. Felix Hinssen designed it. It featured simplified forms and plastered brickwork. A plaza was created in front of the church.
In 1974, the church was redesigned. This followed the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The Laurentius parish merged with the Ansgar parish. It gave up its old worship site in 2007. Since then, the Christ Embassy Church has used the building.
Frydag’s basilica design was retained by Hinssen. The rectangular layout includes a transept integrated into the nave. The nave was extended by one bay. The church’s layout resembles a hall church. Yet, it evokes a three-aisled basilica. This is achieved through varying ceiling heights. High pier arches flank the church pews.
The nave and transept have gable roofs. The side aisles have pent roofs. The church once stood in a courtyard. Now, its facade faces the street. The facade features a recessed portal. There are two doors to the side aisles. High arched windows illuminate the interior. These are in the side aisles and transept walls. Semicircular windows are in the clerestory. A rose window adorns the facade of Laurentius Kirche.
The altar area is elevated. It has a straight chancel closure. It is illuminated by a skylight. The light enters through two roof windows.
The Christ Embassy Church had no use for certain items. The altar, ambo, and baptismal font were given to Latvia. The organ was given to Poland. Relics, chalices, and monstrances are now in St. Ansgar Church. So is the statue of Laurentius created by Paul Brandenburg.
Today, the Laurentius Kirche stands as a testament to faith. It is a symbol of resilience. It overcame war and change. Its story is etched in its walls. It echos through the decades.