Dedicated to Saint Adalbert of Prague let’s delve into the story of Sankt Adalbert here in Hanover. Its origins trace back to a growing need among Hanover’s Catholic community.
In 1907 a society formed. It aimed to create a dedicated Catholic parish for Leinhausen, Stöcken and Herrenhausen. Regular services began in 1917. They were held in local establishments like Kristallpalast and Herzog Ferdinand.
A significant step occurred in 1927. A property opposite Stöcken Cemetery was acquired. It included a house, inn and dance hall. The dance hall transformed into a worship space. It was consecrated as St. Adalbert Chapel on September 25 1927.
After 1945 the community expanded. Many Catholic refugees arrived from former German territories, especially Silesia. A larger church became essential. In 1953 a church building association was founded. The foundation stone for the new Sankt Adalbert church was laid on December 9 1956.
The church was completed on Pentecost in 1958. Bishop Heinrich Maria Janssen of Hildesheim consecrated it on May 26. Two years later in 1960 Sankt Adalbert became an independent parish.
Paul Wolters then head of the State Building Authority Hannover I designed the church between 1956 and 1958. His inspiration came from Le Corbusier’s Notre-Dame-du-Haut chapel in Ronchamp built between 1950 and 1955. Sankt Adalbert was celebrated as one of the most significant Catholic religious buildings in the Diocese of Hildesheim.
Like its model Sankt Adalbert features an asymmetrical layout. It is a hall church topped by a ship-like roof. Inside a narrow band of windows runs between the walls and roof. This creates a unique ambiance. The altar area is lit by three arched windows on the side. Originally the concrete was exposed reflecting Brutalist style. During renovations in the 1980s this was softened with paint.
The altar wall showcases Hans Kuhn’s sgraffito artwork. It depicts the Adoration of the Lamb by the Twenty-Four Elders of the Apocalypse. Werner Kausch created the Stations of the Cross as a deep window band. Norbert Labenz sculpted the statue of the Prophet Jonah for the baptismal font. Bernhard Dörries designed the ceiling’s color scheme.
Near the entrance stands a Romanesque column. It bears the inscription Hic domus Dei est et porta cœli. This translates to Here is the house of God and the gate of Heaven. It came from the Hildesheim Cathedral destroyed in 1945. Above the entrance stylized images of Saint Adalbert and Saint Hedwig are displayed. They represent the patron saints of East Prussia and Silesia. In 2008 a large cross was erected in front of the church. It previously stood at the Gustav-Adolf Church across the street. The Gustav-Adolf Church was converted into a synagogue in 2007.
In 1972 Sankt Adalbert acquired an organ built by Gebrüder Hillebrand Orgelbau. It features two manuals and a pedal with slider chests.
Sankt Adalbert stands not only as a place of worship but also as a testament to the community’s faith and resilience.