Fifty-six registers. That’s how many the St Antonius organ boasts. This magnificent instrument in Frankfurt am Main is second only to the Domorgel in size.
Welcome to St Antonius a neo-Gothic church nestled in Frankfurt’s Westend. This isn’t just any church. It’s a story of faith perseverance and a remarkable benefactor.
St Antonius stands as a testament to the burgeoning Catholic community of late 19th-century Frankfurt. The Westend a newly developed bourgeois district lacked a Catholic church. Enter Princess Anna of Prussia. She generously funded the church’s construction in 1899-1900. Interestingly she only converted to Catholicism in 1901 after the church’s completion. August Menken a Berlin government architect designed the stunning neo-Gothic structure. It was consecrated on May 26 1900 by Bishop Adalbert Endert of Limburg.
The church wasn’t just a building it was a homecoming. Six Capuchin friars oversaw the parish. Their presence marked a return to Frankfurt after a near century-long absence. The Capuchins had previously owned the Antoniterkirche in Töngesgasse from 1722 until secularization in 1802.
Initially all Frankfurt’s Catholic churches belonged to a single parish. This included St Antonius. In 1917 St Antonius became its own independent parish. Paul Loreth served as its first pastor.
The Second World War brought devastation. St Antonius suffered damage in air raids. The church was completely destroyed in a massive bombing raid on March 22 1944. It was painstakingly rebuilt between 1947 and 1949. Further restorations followed in 1963 and 1974. The 1974 restoration included a new coffered ceiling and new stained-glass windows in the choir.
The church’s impressive organ crafted by the Gebrüder Späth company in 1965. It is a musical marvel with 4318 pipes and an exceptionally low bass register a Contrafagott 32.
Three of the original four bells were confiscated and melted down in 1942. Three new bells were cast by Petit & Gebr. Edelbrock of Gescher in 1999 to mark the church’s centennial. A fourth bell is planned for the future.
St Antonius has even appeared in the spotlight. In the 1990s it served as a filming location for the SAT1 television series Schwarz greift ein.
Today St Antonius remains a vibrant center of faith a testament to its enduring history. Its unique blend of architectural beauty musical richness and compelling history makes it a true gem of Frankfurt. Look around you. Notice its beauty. This church is a place to appreciate its resilience and its enduring presence.