St. Anna

“A sanctuary for girls in need.” Mathilde Escher’s legacy echoes within the walls of St. Anna. This isn’t just any chapel. St. Anna stands as a testament to compassion and a tribute to Zurich’s rich history. Before we delve into its heartwarming story, let’s rewind to a time before the chapel graced this very spot. Imagine a bustling foundry, the air thick with the scent of molten metal and the clang of hammers shaping massive bells. This was the domain of the Fössli family, renowned bell makers whose craft resonated throughout the city. However, as times changed, so did their fortunes. The foundry fell silent, leaving behind a legacy etched in bronze and a vacant space ripe for a new purpose. Enter Mathilde Escher, a woman of great vision and even greater empathy. She inherited this land from her father, Hans Casper Escher, a prominent figure in Zurich’s industrial landscape as the founder of Escher Wyss AG. But Mathilde’s heart yearned for something more than machinery and profit. She envisioned a safe haven for young girls facing physical challenges and financial hardship. In 1864, her vision materialized as the St. Anna Asylum, a place where these girls could find solace, support, and a chance at a brighter future. The asylum was housed on the ground floor, while above, the St. Anna chapel rose as a beacon of hope and a space for spiritual reflection. The chapel’s very structure intertwined with Zurich’s ancient past. During its construction, workers unearthed massive blocks of blue alpine limestone, remnants of the Linth Glacier’s journey through the ages. These stones, silent witnesses to millennia, were incorporated into the building, weaving a tangible connection between the chapel and the land’s deep history. Today, St. Anna continues to serve as a place of worship for the St. Anna congregation, part of the Evangelical Society of Zurich. It stands as a testament to Mathilde Escher’s unwavering compassion and a reminder that even amidst the bustle of a modern city, the spirit of generosity and care continues to resonate.