Imagine the glow of countless candles illuminating St Godehard. This beautiful church stands proudly in Hannover’s Linden-Mitte district. It wasn’t always here. Its story begins long after the Reformation. St Godehard became the second Catholic church in Hannover. A testament to Linden’s rapid industrial growth. Bishop Sommerwerck made it happen. He sold land from the dissolved Söder parish to fund the construction.
The original St Godehard opened in 1874. Architect Christoph Hehl designed this neo-Gothic masterpiece. It was dedicated to Saint Godehard. A bishop of Hildesheim in the 11th century. The parish originally served 4000 Catholics. Its boundaries stretched all the way to the Deister mountain range. The Leine river formed its eastern border. Later the parish area shrunk. New churches like St Benno were built. The Catholic population of Linden however continued to grow.
Tragedy struck during World War II. In 1943 devastating air raids hit Hannover. St Godehard was destroyed by firebombs. It burned completely to ashes. Another raid in 1945 left only rubble. Yet the spirit of St Godehard endured.
The church rose again. Between 1949 and 1950 it was rebuilt. Weihbischof Johannes Bydolek consecrated the restored church in 1950. Catholic refugees from East Germany swelled the congregation. The interior was renovated in 1968 and 1974.
Today St Godehard stands as a symbol of resilience. Its three-aisled nave with polygonal apse and eastern transept welcomes visitors. This area serves as entrance and baptistery. A copper-clad tower rises above the crossing. It houses the church bells. The interior is painted white. Only the capitals are accented in yellow. A golden-yellow frieze adorns the high pointed arch of the choir. Much of the church’s furnishings date from the 1950s. The main altar was consecrated in 1968.
The organ too has a fascinating story. It was built in 1987 by Emil Hammer Orgelbau. Some pipes from the 1954 organ were reused. It boasts 38 registers. A testament to the enduring legacy of St Godehard in Hannover. A beautiful church a place of worship. A symbol of faith.