Pfingstkirche

Gazing at the Pfingstkirche, one might hear whispers of its intriguing past. The Pfingstkirche stands proudly in Potsdam’s Nauener Vorstadt. Its red brick walls and soaring hipped roof hint at the stories within. The church’s history began with a small chapel. This chapel was consecrated in 1894. It was part of a larger complex known as the Pfingstgelände. This complex also includes the Neue Pfingsthaus, the parish house, and a former widow’s house. The widow’s house now serves as the Evangelische Grundschule Potsdam. The Pfingstkirche wasn’t always a church. It started as a chapel attached to the Neue Pfingsthaus. The Neue Pfingsthaus itself was built to house a rescue mission for at-risk youth. This mission was inspired by a sermon given by Johann Hinrich Wichern. The original Pfingsthaus, a former winemaker’s house, became too small. So, the Pfingst-Kapellenverein was founded in 1891. With donations and funds from the imperial family, the Neue Pfingsthaus and its chapel were built. Architect Ludwig von Tiedemann oversaw the construction. The initial 250 seats proved insufficient for the growing Nauener Vorstadt population. So, the chapel was expanded to accommodate 400 people. Finally, on October 15, 1894, the Pfingstkapelle was consecrated. It initially served as a branch of the Friedenskirchgemeinde. A parish house was added to the complex in 1896 and a widow’s house with a community hall in 1899. The Pfingstgemeinde renamed their chapel the Pfingstkirche in 1902. The congregation became independent on April 1, 1910. After Empress Auguste Viktoria’s death in 1921, the church was renamed the Kaiserin-Auguste-Viktoria-Gedächtnis-Kirche. It held this name until 1946 when it reverted to Pfingstkirche. Inside the Pfingstkirche, you’ll find remarkable features. The altar windows, created by the Mayer’sche Hofkunstanstalt München, are stunning. Other stained-glass windows by Fritz Geiges add to the beauty. Woodcarver Gustav Kuntzsch crafted the pulpit, lectern, baptismal font, and the original oak altar. He also created the imperial box, designed after medieval models, which he donated along with Potsdam’s court carpenter Eduard Schultz. Sadly, the original altar was removed in the 1960s. The current organ, built by Alexander Schuke Potsdam Orgelbau, is also a masterpiece. It was installed in stages, starting in 2011. The final stage was completed in 2019, just in time for the church’s 125th anniversary. The church bells, cast in 1893 at the Bochumer Verein, still ring out over the neighborhood. The Pfingstkirche stands as a testament to faith and resilience. From a small chapel serving a rescue mission, it grew into a beloved community landmark. Its red brick walls have witnessed Potsdam’s changing history. They continue to offer a place of peace and reflection for all who enter.