Gazing up at the Neuapostolische Kirche Wedel, can you imagine the stories held within these walls? This church is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a spiritual home for many in Wedel.
The Neuapostolische Kirche Wedel is located at Rissener Strabe 27. It stands as a testament to the New Apostolic faith in this community. The church is a place of worship for the Gemeinde Wedel. Gemeinde means congregation in German.
The New Apostolic Church has a fascinating history. Its roots go back to 1863 in Hamburg Germany. This was when it separated from the Catholic Apostolic Church. The split occurred during a schism.
The Catholic Apostolic Church began in the 1830s. It was a renewal movement within the Anglican Church and the Church of Scotland. The New Apostolic Church sees itself as a continuation of the Early Church. They believe their leaders are successors to the twelve apostles.
A key belief of the New Apostolic Church is the Second Coming of Christ. Their doctrines are similar to mainstream Christianity. The church’s hierarchy resembles the Roman Catholic Church.
The New Apostolic Church uses different abbreviations in different languages. In German it is NAK. In French it is ENA. In Portuguese and Spanish it is INA. The English abbreviation is NAC.
In 1832 John Bate Cardale was called as the first apostle. This calling came through prophecies in England. Eleven more men were called as apostles by 1835. These men came from various Christian backgrounds. They began to travel and preach. Their message focused on restoring the Church to its perfect state. They believed this restoration was necessary for Christ’s return.
After some deaths the apostolate declared there was no need to call new apostles. However in 1860 the German Prophet Heinrich Geyer called two evangelists to be apostles. The existing apostles rejected this.
Later in 1862 Geyer called Rudolf Rosochaki to be an apostle. The English apostles did not accept private callings. Rosochaki was told to wait for God to confirm his calling publicly.
In December 1862 Geyer told Angel F. W. Schwartz about Rosochaki’s calling. Schwartz invited them to Hamburg. On January 4 1863 Schwartz and most of the congregation accepted Rosochaki as an apostle.
Apostle Rosochaki later doubted his calling. He returned to the Catholic Apostolic Church on January 17 1863. On January 26 1863 Angel Schwartz expressed his belief in continuing the apostle ministry. On February 6 1863 the Hamburg congregation was expelled from the Catholic Apostolic Church. This event is known as the Hamburg Schism.
The Hamburg congregation split off. They formed the Allgemeine Apostolische Mission in 1863. Today January 4 1863 is considered the founding date of the New Apostolic Church.
Without apostolic authority the Hamburg congregation needed a new apostle. On April 12 1863 Priest Carl Louis Preuss was called as an apostle through prophecy. Prophet Heinrich Geyer confirmed this calling. On May 25 1863 Friedrich Wilhelm Schwartz was also called as an apostle. This marked the beginning of the Apostles of the New Order. They spread their message around the world.
The New Apostolic Church continues to evolve. It maintains its traditions while adapting to modern times. The Neuapostolische Kirche Wedel is a local example of this global faith. It serves as a place for community connection and spiritual growth in Wedel. It is part of a larger story that spans continents and centuries.