Gleaming copper sheaths the tent-like roof above us. This is the Markuskirche in Essen. A house of worship and a testament to a community’s resilience. Let’s step back in time and uncover the story etched into these walls.
After the inauguration of the Apostelkirche in 1913, it became clear that another community center was needed in western Frohnhausen. The booming district saw significant construction, particularly by Friedrich Krupp AG. Krupp built several settlements extending westward.
Early Bible studies took place in a private home in Breilsort. Later, they moved to a barrack on Thiesbürgerweg. During World War I, in 1917, the community bought land where the Herderschule now stands. Their goal was to build a church.
But the war took its toll. Many men never returned. Women and children worked in the Krupp steel factory producing weapons. After the war, more died from hunger and disease. Krupp’s housing construction stopped temporarily. Church building plans faded.
Slowly, construction resumed including the Pottgießerhof settlement in 1935 and 1936. The rise of Nazism and the devastation of World War II further delayed the church plans. After the war and the 1948 currency reform, reconstruction began. The Pottgießerhof was rebuilt in the mid-1950s. Plans for a community center in western Frohnhausen resurfaced.
On October 12, 1957, the presbytery decided to build a community center on Postreitweg. It would include a church, community center, kindergarten, and youth center. They named it Markus-Gemeindezentrum.
The land purchased in 1917 was exchanged with the city of Essen. The city built the Herderschule on the original church site. The adjacent land became available for the church. More land was acquired to realize the community center designed by architects Wolfgang Müller-Zantop and Heinz Kalenborn. The final area covered 10,500 square meters. The church building faced north. The bell tower stood to the east. The youth center was to the south. The kindergarten and community center were to the west.
The youth center was 13 by 21 meters. It included a bicycle cellar. Activities included Bible study, singing, games, sports, and crafts.
The cornerstone was laid in October 1961 during the harvest festival. The church’s shell and concrete tent roof were already complete. The community gathered to witness the ceremonial entombment of the cornerstone behind the altar. Pastor Helmut Wüsthoff delivered the sermon. Services were held in the Herderschule, the Elisabethschule, and the Urania-Kino.
After the bell consecration on July 8, 1962, the entire Markus-Gemeindezentrum was inaugurated on November 4, 1962. Senior Church Councillor Heinz Stöver gave the sermon. A commemorative publication was released. Initially, the Markuskirche was open daily for quiet reflection. On January 1, 1963, the 7th parish became district 3 of the new Essen-Frohnhausen Evangelical Church.
Today, the Markuskirche seats nearly 500 people. The square building has a copper-covered concrete tent roof lined with wood. Two copper-covered doors lead from the church square into a transverse entrance area. Three more doors open into the church space. Stained glass by Ursula Graeff-Hirsch adorns the entrance area and the four triangular gable windows. These windows fill the interior with light. Since 1984, a Schuke organ with two manuals, a pedal, and nine registers has enhanced the worship experience.
The 35-meter-high bell tower is topped with a 12-meter-high copper-clad steel cross. The Bochumer Verein cast three bells. The smallest weighs 470 kilograms. The largest weighs 938 kilograms. Each bell bears a Bible verse.
The surrounding buildings include the kindergarten and community center. These flat-roofed buildings are interconnected inside. In 2000, senior apartments were added near the bell tower.
In late September 2019, the presbytery announced the inevitable closure of the Markuskirche due to declining membership and needed investments. The Apostelkirche will serve as the central preaching site. A protest letter signed by over 100 residents demanded clarification. A protest was held in front of the Apostelkirche on November 14, 2019.
The Markuskirche is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of faith, community, and perseverance in the face of adversity.