“135 000 books. Quite a collection isn’t it?” I ask my group. We stand before the Nordkirchenbibliothek in Hamburg. This isn’t just any library.
The Nordkirchenbibliothek or NKB as it’s known. It’s a special library for theology church and religion. It’s a vital part of the Nordkirche. More than just books it’s a living archive. It holds the history of faith in Northern Germany.
It started in 1894. Initially it was a training tool for aspiring pastors. It was called the Kandidatenbibliothek. Georg Behrmann the main pastor at St Michaelis had the idea. It quickly outgrew its initial purpose. It became the Landeskirchliche Bibliothek in 1929.
After World War II the library supported the Kirchliche Hochschule Hamburg. It also supported the Evangelical Theology department at the University of Hamburg. The library got its first full-time director in 1957. In 1966 it was renamed again Landeskirchliche Bibliothek. It even got its own building in Grindelallee in 1969.
Unfortunately it had to leave that building in 2005. Now it resides in the Dorothee-Sölle-Haus here in Altona. The library’s collection focuses on the church history of Northern Germany. It includes practical theology hymnals and current publications of the Nordelbische Kirche.
In 2002 the library faced controversy. It partially sold off its valuable collection. This was the Ottilie von Ahlefeldtsche Bibliothek. It was from the noble Itzehoe monastery. This caused public outcry and harsh criticism. It shows the weight of preserving history even for a special library.
The Nordkirchenbibliothek isn’t just about books. It’s about faith scholarship and the preservation of a rich heritage. It holds a vital place in the history of Hamburg. It is a treasure trove of knowledge. A reminder that even in the modern world. The past continues to shape our present.