Four bronze voices resonate from the red Main sandstone tower. These are the bells of St. Johannes Apostel. Listen closely. They tell a story of a community’s faith and architectural vision.
St. Johannes Apostel stands as a testament to Frankfurt’s post-war era. It is a cultural landmark. This Catholic church serves as a focal point for the Sachsenhausen district.
Let’s step back to the mid-1950s. The Fritz-Kissel-Siedlung was newly built. St. Bonifatius parish grew. It swelled to over 15,000 members. Many were displaced persons from Central and Eastern Europe. A new church was needed. Plans began in 1956.
In 1957, a humble beginning took place. An old barn on Ziegelhüttenweg was transformed. It became a makeshift church. An altar from the cathedral was placed there. This altar was dedicated to the Apostles. It inspired the church’s name: St. Johannes Apostel. Services began on Ascension Day in 1957.
A newly formed church building association raised funds. An architectural competition was held in 1959. Georg Müller and Helmut Müller won. They were tasked with designing the new St. Johannes Apostel. Construction started in 1961. On June 17, 1963, Bishop Wilhelm Kempf consecrated the church.
Notice how St. Johannes Apostel anchors the residential area. It stands where Ziegelhüttenweg meets Beuthener and Teplitz-Schönauer Straße. The white bell tower connects visually with the Protestant Osterkirche. The church marks a transition. It bridges the row housing and the open landscape.
The church’s form is unique. The nave is made of rough stone. It rises from a circular base. The base tapers towards the east. Quartzite stone defines the exterior. A gently sloping roof sits atop a band of windows.
The church is flanked by practical structures. A parish office stands to the north. To the south a community center and kindergarten extend. The church’s sculptural design is framed by geometric buildings. This enhances its visual impact.
Two entrances beckon from the northwest. Inside the soaring ceiling draws the eye. Two rows of pews guide you toward the altar. The altar stands against a windowless wall. A band of glass circles the space. Its colorful figures illuminate the interior. The light band separates the ceiling from the walls. A side chapel opens to the south. Additional rooms like the vestry adjoin the southeast corner. The organ loft echoes the room’s curves in the northwest.
The stained-glass windows fill the church with color. They were designed by Frankfurt artist Joachim Pick. Biblical scenes come to life in the glass. Larger figures adorn the choir windows. A smaller scene sits above the organ loft. A blue band unites all the windows. The altar is made of shell limestone.
The bells were cast by Schilling in Heidelberg in 1964. The Dreifaltigkeitsglocke rings in C. The Christusglocke sings in E flat. The Marienglocke calls in F. The Johannesglocke answers in A flat. Finally the Totenglocke sounds in H.
St. Johannes Apostel is more than stone and glass. It’s a place for reflection, prayer, and community. It’s a cultural landmark. It’s a testament to Frankfurt’s spirit.