The imposing silhouette of St Lorenz Kirche rises before you. A testament to faith and resilience. This is not the original St Lorenz. That simpler church stood here centuries ago. It served the first parish outside Luebeck’s city walls. Established in 1669 it had a modest design. A simple nave a small tower. It boasted baroque interiors. However the burgeoning population of the late 19th century demanded more space.
The old St Lorenz was deemed inadequate. Johannes Bernhard a driving force behind the change advocated for a larger church. The old structure was demolished. In its place arose this neo-Gothic marvel. Architect Ernst Carl Conrad Heidenreich guided the construction. City building director Gustav Schaumann oversaw the project. The new St Lorenz was inaugurated on May 6 1900. Just down the road the Matthaikirche also found its place.
The interior shines with neo-Gothic features. The pulpit and altar are the work of Gustav Kuntzsch from Wernigerode. A remarkable detail a 220 meter high statue adorns the exterior. Sculptor Hans Schwegerle created this Christ figure from shell limestone. Originally plans called for a statue of Saint Lorenz. The decision shifted to a representation of Christ. The Saviour stands as if to say What you ask in my name I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. The artist gifted a smaller version to Luebeck’s museum.
This church holds more than architectural beauty. It witnessed history. On February 26 1914 Alfred Stulcken baptized Herbert Frahm. Frahm better known as Willy Brandt a prominent figure in German politics.
The church underwent further changes in 1939. During the tenure of Pastor Gerhard K Schmidt the neo-Gothic pulpit disappeared. The altar went into storage. It was replaced by Otto Flath’s sculpture of Christ walking through life’s fullness. In 1999 the original altar returned. Flath’s work now resides to the side. A hidden treasure a Baroque painting of the Binding of Isaac. A Luebeck art historian identified it as a work from the workshop of Rubens’ pupil Jakob Jordaens.
The church’s organ also has a story. Emil Possehl a senator gifted a new organ to his parish in 1901. A Sauer organ it met a fiery end in 1921. A short circuit caused a devastating fire. It was replaced by a Furtwangler Hammer instrument later restored by Lobback.
The bells too tell a tale. The current three-bell chime includes two borrowed bells. The original bells were melted down during World War I. Three new bells were cast in 1925 by Ohlsson brothers in Luebeck. Only the smallest survived the wars. The current peal is a fascinating combination of history and resilience.
St Lorenz Kirche is more than a building. It’s a living record of Luebeck’s past. A testament to faith perseverance and the enduring spirit of a community.