St. Clara

Built of some two million red bricks, St. Clara Church in Dortmund-Hörde stands as a testament to faith and resilience. Did you know it’s often called the “Brick Cathedral”? Right here, before you, stands St. Clara, a neo-Gothic masterpiece designed by Arnold Güldenpfennig. St. Clara isn’t just a beautiful building. It holds centuries of history, echoing the lives of those who worshipped within its walls. The original St. Clara was part of the Clarenberg Monastery, founded in 1339 by nobleman Konrad von der Mark and his wife Elisabeth von Kleve. The area experienced a population boom after the Hörde ironworks opened in 1840, bringing many Catholic workers to the area. The old church couldn’t accommodate the growing congregation. So, despite objections from preservationists, the old church was demolished, making way for the St. Clara you see today. The cornerstone of this magnificent structure was laid on May 5, 1863, and the church was consecrated just two years later on May 30, 1865. St. Clara has faced adversity. During World War II, a bomb severely damaged the church and its tower on May 22, 1944. The tower, along with the church’s only remaining bell, crashed to the ground. The war’s impact was extensive. Stained-glass windows shattered due to the air pressure from nearby bombings. The roof and vaults eventually collapsed due to lack of materials for timely repairs. Yet, St. Clara endured. After the war, the church was restored. Services resumed in 1949. The original spire was replaced in a spectacular operation in February 1988. The church’s four current bells, cast after the war, first rang in 1954. St. Clara continued to evolve, undergoing extensive interior modernization and renovation between 1985 and 1995. A major exterior renovation was completed in 2009. Inside St. Clara, you’ll find modern windows by artist Wilhelm Buschulte. Look closely, and you’ll discover treasures from the old monastery church, including a 15th-century triumphal cross and a 1339 carving of Christ’s head above the sacristy door. St. Clara’s story is a story of community, resilience, and faith, a story etched in every brick of this magnificent “Brick Cathedral”.