Far from being a mere building, Sankt Bonifatius stands as a testament to Dortmund’s resilience. The Roman Catholic Church of Sankt Bonifatius is located in Dortmund’s Innenstadt-Ost district. It is not far from the Bundesstraße 1.
Originally built between 1909 and 1910, Ludwig Becker designed Sankt Bonifatius in the Neo-Romanesque style. Becker was the master builder of Mainz Cathedral. During World War II, the church suffered severe damage in 1944 and 1945. Only the southeast tower and the two western stair towers remained.
In 1951, architect Emil Steffann designed a new building. The new church incorporated remnants of the original structure. Debris stones from the old building were used in various parts of the brickwork. This gives Sankt Bonifatius a unique texture.
The interior boasts a spacious church hall without pillars. It features an apse and a side room on the north side. A large arch connects this side room to the main hall. A smaller side room on the northeast side serves as a chapel. In 1967, Hans Kaiser designed the round-arched window of this room. The abstract stained glass uses red tones. Its theme is “The Burning Bush”.
The interior design emphasizes the altar as the focal point. The arrangement of the altar and other liturgical spaces anticipated the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The church’s strict simplicity reflects Franciscan tradition. This influence is attributed to Steffann’s frequent visits to Assisi.
A monumental baptismal font by Heinrich Gerhard Bücker is a notable feature. It dates back to 1954 and was initially controversial. Bücker conceived it as a mobile. Three strong hemp ropes hold the lid. A 125 kg bronze dove directly above acts as a counterweight. When the lid is lifted for baptism, the dove descends.
The organ of Sankt Bonifatius was built in 1972. Kemper, an organ building company from Lübeck, constructed it. It has 26 registers distributed across three manuals and a pedal. The playing and register actions are electric. Four free combinations are available. Several registers from the previous instrument which was also a Kemper from 1954 were reused in the organ’s construction. Hey carried out a general overhaul of the organ in the spring of 2011.
Sankt Bonifatius is listed as a historical monument by the city of Dortmund. After the original church’s destruction, Emil Steffann rebuilt it in 1953 and 1954. He used rubble from the old Neo-Romanesque church. This blends the past with modern design. Steffann’s guiding principle was architecture marked by simplicity and poverty.
The church is part of a complex. It includes a courtyard and parish hall. The complex emphasizes both vertical and horizontal lines. The roof slopes toward the residential area. A courtyard acts as a transition from the street. Inside, the church has three interconnected spaces. The interior feels like a bright hall.
The altar area is illuminated by a round-arched window. The side aisle opens to the main nave through a wide arch. This leads to the tabernacle and a colorful window. The church’s design incorporates old Christian symbols with modern materials. The baptismal font features three peacocks symbolizing resurrection. A dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
Stankt Bonifatius is more than bricks and mortar. It embodies Dortmund’s spirit of renewal. It is a testament to faith and community.