Beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary street corner lies a story etched in red brick. We are standing in front of St. Bonifatius. This Catholic church stands in Essen, a testament to faith and architectural vision. Let’s explore the history and unique features of this sacred space.
St. Bonifatius was built in 1960 and 1961. Emil Steffann designed it. The church presents itself in the style of a basilica. Its red brick exterior is quite striking. You might miss it if you weren’t paying attention as you walked along Moltkestraße. It almost hides in a small depression near Steeler Straße.
St. Bonifatius offers three entrances. Each one has a unique doorknob with an animal motif. The Taufkapelle entrance shows fighting cocks. At the Sakristei, you’ll see a pelican. The main entrance features a fish. Each animal carries its own special meaning. If you are curious about the meaning behind the figures, a church guide is available in the Sakristei and in the Gemeindebüro.
Inside St. Bonifatius is something special. In 1990, Patrick Collon from Brussels built an organ for St. Michael am Wasserturm. But in July 2019, Martin Scholz moved the organ from the closed church to St. Bonifatius. The organ has 32 registers and three manuals.
The previous Walcker organ from 1971 was sold to a parish in Krakow, Poland. The current Collon organ boasts a range of features. Its manuals span from C to g3. The pedal covers C to f1. It has a mechanical playing action. It also features several couplers. These include I/II, III/II, III/I, I/P, II/P and III/P. A special “Vent” stop allows switching between wedge and magazine bellows.
The disposition of the organ includes several divisions. The Positif has a Bourdon 8′, Prestant 4′, Nasard 2 2/3′, Doublette 2′, Tierce 1 3/5′ and other registers. The Grand-Orgue features a Bourdon 16′, Montre 8′, Prestant 4′, Flûte 4′ and more. The Récit expressif includes a Flûte 8′, Gambe 8′, Voix céleste 8′ and other registers. The Pédale has a Soubasse 16′, Flûte 8′, Flûte 4′ and Bombarde 16′.
St. Bonifatius stands not only as a place of worship. It is also a place of architectural and musical significance. Its red brick walls and unique animal doorknobs invite us to discover its treasures. The story of its organ adds another layer to its rich history. It connects two churches and two cities through the power of music. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of art, faith and history.