A magnificent Baroque organ fills the air. Its music echoes through the centuries. Welcome to Sankt Crucis in Erfurt. This isn’t just any church. It’s a story woven into the very fabric of Erfurt’s history. Originally mentioned in 1168 it was then known as the Neuwerkskirche. It stood in the new part of the city. The name translates to ‘By the new facility’. This church belonged to the Augustinian nuns of Neuwerkskloster. Later it became a parish church.
Imagine a time before the current building. A Late Romanesque structure stood here. Then in 1291 disaster struck. A terrible fire engulfed the monastery and church. A third of Erfurt was destroyed. Yet from the ashes something new was built.
Between 1466 and 1473 the Late Romanesque church was replaced by a stunning Late Gothic structure. This wasn’t the end of its transformations. The church underwent further significant changes. The rich treasure of the monastery was plundered during the Peasant’s War. What little remained was confiscated by the Swedes in 1631.
The Baroque church we see today is a testament to resilience. Between 1731 and 1735 the Baroque building was constructed. The Gothic walls were incorporated into the design. Bishop Gudenus consecrated the rebuilt church. The interior was finished by 1740. The organ built by Franciscus Volckland between 1732 and 1737 is a masterpiece. This purely mechanical instrument boasts 28 stops. It has been meticulously restored. Today it is used for concerts and international organ competitions.
Sankt Crucis’ history is far from over. The building served as a military hospital during the French occupation. It was a Catholic parish church once again after the Prussian rule was restored. Then the remaining parts of the monastery were demolished in 1881. The independent bell tower suffered a devastating fire in 1899.
Extensive renovations took place between 1978 and 1986. The parishes of St Wigbert and St Crucis were unified from 1982 to 2016. They became a single Catholic parish. Now part of the inner city parish of St Lawrence Sankt Crucis stands as a vibrant symbol of Erfurt’s enduring spirit. A place of worship prayer and contemplation. A silent witness to the passage of time.