Dream for a moment. What if these unassuming walls of Sankt Anna could talk? They would tell a story of faith hope and resilience in Berlin’s Baumschulenweg. Sankt Anna’s story begins in the early 20th century. Baumschulenweg saw a surge in its Catholic population. Before Sankt Anna was built, religious services were irregular.
Regular services began in 1924. In 1927, the community acquired land for a church. Architect Bernhard Wübben designed Sankt Anna. It was always meant as a temporary solution. Its simple design reflects this. Sankt Anna is a cubic structure. A small bell tower marks the entrance. The shadow of the large Protestant church “Zum Vaterhaus” loomed over it since 1911.
During World War II Sankt Anna suffered damage. The interior once featured a modern vibrant design. A brick high altar stood in the sanctuary. The 1960s brought renovations to Sankt Anna. A war-damaged window was removed. It depicted Anna Selbdritt. This showed Jesus with Mary and Anna. Georg Nawroth created a Christus Pantokrator figure.
Nawroth also created the Stations of the Cross. He made the Anna Relief and the Maria Himmelkönigin figure. Alfons Bittner contributed too. His Evangelist symbols were originally for portable altars. A relief of the Good Shepherd came from Kapelle Franz Xaver. Joachim Cardinal Meisner gifted the church a late Gothic Anna Selbdritt figure. It dated back to around 1500.
Today Sankt Anna stands as a testament to Berlin’s Catholic community. It shows the modern church movement. This unassuming church is an oasis. Its design reflects the dreams of Christians in East Berlin. The church embodies their efforts. It stands as a testament to their dedication. Sankt Anna is more than bricks and mortar. It is a living history of faith. It is a place of reflection and community. It is a reminder of Berlin’s layered past.