Brick by brick Sankt Paulus rose. It stands as a testament to faith in Berlin-Moabit. Sankt Paulus is more than just a church. It is a Roman Catholic parish church with a Dominican monastery. The church was built in 1893.
Imagine the sounds of construction echoing through the streets. The architect Engelbert Seibertz designed this late Gothic Revival masterpiece. Its red brick exterior stands out. Sankt Paulus is a Kulturdenkmal a cultural monument. It has the number 09050242 on Wikidata.
Let’s delve into its history. Sankt Paulus stands on the site of an earlier chapel. This earlier chapel was also named Sankt Paulus. It was consecrated in 1869. Before the chapel stood houses and a metal forge. The metal forge was transformed into the original church building. Carl Niermann oversaw this transformation. Dominicans moved into a new residence nearby. They provided care in Moabit’s hospitals. They taught at an orphanage.
But controversy struck. The inauguration of Sankt Paulus faced criticism. In 1869 the “Moabit Monastery Storm” damaged the church.
The Kulturkampf impacted Sankt Paulus. In 1875 the Dominicans had to leave the monastery. The property was sold to a private owner. Yet the chapel continued to serve its religious purpose. Later the Dominicans were allowed to return with restrictions.
The Catholic population grew. A larger Sankt Paulus church became necessary. The foundation stone was laid in 1892. Propst Joseph Jahnel consecrated Sankt Paulus on October 24 1893.
Notice the architecture of Sankt Paulus. It is a three-aisled hall church. This is in the late Gothic style. Engelbert Seibertz built it in 1892 and 1893. The nave consists of three bays. A transept extends slightly beyond the side aisles. The sacristy is on the west side. Above it is a private chapel. The Dominican monastery connects to this area.
Consider the main entrance. It was redesigned in 1987. It features three doors. The central door is larger with its own gable. Two 45-meter-high towers flank the portal. Instead of crosses the towers are adorned with gilded flower stalks. These point in the four wind directions. This floral motif repeats the lily crosses seen elsewhere. The lily crosses are the coat of arms of the Dominicans.
Inside Sankt Paulus the chancel faces south. Here you find the altar the pulpit and the choir stalls. A Gothic baptismal font stands to the left. To the right is an apostle altar. It features 15th-century figures.
The interior was redesigned after reconstruction. The earlier colorful murals are gone. But the floor tiles and holy water basins remain. The brick columns contrast with the white walls.
Sankt Paulus features some sacred elements. There is an apostle altar from the 15th century. A Deposition scene is in the vestibule. A crucifix is in the right aisle.
In 2016 Sankt Paulus had a Holy Door. Archbishop Heiner Koch opened it. Pilgrims passed through it symbolizing a commitment to helping those in need. The door was adorned with reliefs representing acts of mercy.
The Sankt Paulus organ is noteworthy. Franz Eggert built an organ in 1901. In 1975 it was replaced by a new organ. Gebr. Oberlinger Orgelbau built this new organ. It has 46 registers.
Sankt Paulus also has five bronze bells. Feldmann and Marschel cast them in 1958. Each bell bears an inscription.
The Dominicans were entrusted with pastoral care in Moabit in 1895. The parish had about 30000 members. Later the parish was divided. In 2019 Sankt Paulus merged with other parishes. The Dominicans now serve several churches. They also serve as prison chaplains. They work in other pastoral roles.
Today Sankt Paulus serves as both a parish and monastery church. The monks work as pastors. They fulfill other pastoral duties.