Sankt Peter

Beneath the gaze of Deutschhaus Mainz stands Sankt Peter, a radiant gem of Rococo architecture. Sankt Peter wasn’t always here. Its original home, north of the city walls, was tragically destroyed in 1631 during the Thirty Years’ War. The collegiate church of “St. Peter before the walls” lay in ruins for over a century. It was a time of loss and displacement for the community. Imagine the archbishop, Johann Friedrich Karl von Ostein, surveying the bleaching district in 1749. He envisioned a renewed Mainz, and central to this vision was a new home for Sankt Peter. The chosen location held its own history. A Romanesque church, known as the “Odenmünster” or “St. Mari unterm Münster,” once graced the site. This older church, unused and decaying, made way for the rise of the majestic Sankt Peter we see today. Architect Johann Valentin Thoman brought the archbishop’s vision to life. Construction began in 1749 and concluded in 1756. The consecration ceremony, held on May 2, 1756, must have been a moment of profound joy and renewal for the community. Sankt Peter’s story, however, continued to intertwine with the tumultuous history of Mainz. During the French occupation of 1813, the hallowed halls were transformed into a stable. Later, it served as a garrison church for Prussian troops until 1918. Sankt Peter withstood the first major air raid on Mainz in 1942. But the relentless bombings of 1944 and 1945 inflicted devastating damage. One of the twin towers crashed into the nave. The tower façade was lost, and the nave was gutted by fire. Despite the destruction, the spirit of Sankt Peter remained unbroken. Temporary repairs allowed the community to return by 1952. The church then underwent meticulous restoration. By 1961, the majestic twin towers reached for the sky once again. The restoration continued for decades, finally concluding in 1989. Sadly, some treasures were lost forever. The original organ, the ceiling frescoes depicting the life of St. Peter, and the choir stalls vanished in the inferno. Miraculously, the grand baroque altars, the intricate stucco work, and Johannes Förster’s magnificent pulpit survived. Today, Sankt Peter stands as a testament to resilience. A modern altar by Gernot Rumpf adds a contemporary touch. It depicts St. Peter, the “fisher of men,” with fish playfully transforming into people. It serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of faith and community.