“Church with a community center” might sound unusual. Yet, here stands the Melanchthonkirche. This is no ordinary church but one of the first in Germany to combine worship and community. Let’s delve into the story of the Melanchthonkirche.
The Melanchthonkirche was built between 1929 and 1930. Theodor Merill designed it. The concept was innovative. It housed a church upstairs and a community center downstairs. Friedrich Bolte envisioned this combination of church and community spaces. The initial plans included rooms for church activities and a confirmation hall.
Its history began with a request from the Evangelical Citizens’ Association. They petitioned the Bayenthal presbytery. Construction took nearly two years. The cornerstone was laid on September 8, 1929. The church was inaugurated on June 15, 1930.
Tragedy struck during World War II. An air raid on Cologne on October 28, 1944, devastated the Melanchthonkirche. The sanctuary, sacristy, and altar area were destroyed. Reconstruction was approved on March 17, 1948. However, the church lost one of its unique features. The semicircular wall on the west side was replaced with a rectangular addition reflecting the postwar style.
In 1963, the Melanchthon congregation became part of the Cologne-South church district. Before that, in 1936, it had separated from the Bayenthal congregation. Since 2000, the Melanchthonkirche has also had an online presence.
The Melanchthonkirche’s bell tower houses three bells. They were cast by the Rincker bell foundry in Sinn. The smallest bell dates back to 1929. The two larger bells were cast in 1957. The bells hang in a two-story steel frame.
The church is named after Philipp Melanchthon. He was a key figure in the Reformation and a close associate of Martin Luther. Born Philipp Schwarzerd, he later adopted the Greek name Melanchthon. He was a humanist, reformer and educator. Melanchthon’s educational reforms earned him the title “Teacher of Germany”. The Melanchthonkirche proudly bears his name. It embodies faith, knowledge, education, and community service.
In 1932, Lambert Schmithausen created the portal. It features Jesus’ words from Matthew 11:28. It says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden.” The original bells were confiscated during the war. They were replaced in 1957. The new bells retained the same inscriptions. They also matched the tones of the Pius Church bells.
The Melanchthonkirche stands as a testament to resilience. It embraces community and faith. It also stands as an example of Bauhaus architecture. In 1982, the community center gained historical monument status. It became part of the Rodenkirchen cultural path in 1989. A lift was added in 2001. It provides access to all levels of the community center. Every Sunday services are held at 10 am. The Melanchthonkirche welcomes everyone. It stands as a beacon of faith and community in Cologne.