Contemplate the towering church steeple of St. Markus against the Essen skyline. St. Markus in Bredeney is more than just a church. It is a testament to faith and resilience. Its story spans centuries.
The parish of St. Markus existed from 1891 to 2008. Before 1891, a Markuskapelle stood on the same site. The chapel was built between 1036 and 1136. It was sadly torn down in 1803. This happened during the secularization period. Today a boulder reminds us of the chapel’s location.
In 1873 the community received money and land. This was through a donation to build a church. The cornerstone was laid on August 29, 1880. A nave and two lower aisles were built. They were designed in the Neo-Gothic style.
In 1883, Kaplan van Oberger blessed the church. This was on November 25. The official consecration had to wait. Cologne Auxiliary Bishop Hermann Joseph Schmitz performed it on October 20, 1894. Political issues caused the delay. The cemetery north of the church was consecrated earlier. This was on September 15, 1887.
St. Markus was expanded in 1932. A modern hall church was built. It had a large nave and a side aisle. The old church remained mostly unchanged. This expansion increased seating from 180 to 400. Auxiliary Bishop Wilhelm Stockums consecrated the expanded church on September 18, 1933. A bell tower was added at the northeast corner. It received four new bells in 1933.
During World War II St. Markus suffered. The Neo-Gothic part was largely destroyed. This happened during an air raid on March 11, 1945. After the war, it was rebuilt in a modern style. The old altar area’s curve still exists. It now serves as a baptistery.
Major renovations occurred after the war. These took place in 1955, 1968, and 1983. A new set of six bells was purchased in 1957. This was made possible by a donation. Five bells were newly cast. One old bell was recast. In 1962 a boulder with a bronze plaque was erected. It commemorates the old Markuskapelle. The altar table from 1968 replaced the old high altar. It was replaced again in 1995/1996.
A new organ was installed in 1996. It sits on a newly built gallery. This gallery stands freely in front of the west wall. The previous organ was located on a gallery. It was above the altar area. After removing the old organ, the gallery became a rehearsal room. It is used by choirs and instrumental groups. The Klusenkapelle in Bredeney has belonged to St. Markus since around 1900.
The interior of St. Markus is bright and simple. Large rectangular openings connect the side aisles to the nave. The wooden pews form blocks in the side aisles. This leaves a central aisle free in the nave.
The altar area is raised by several steps. The table-shaped altar has a projecting mensa made of Swiss Jura stone. It rests on four octagonal columns. Metal sculptor Helge Kühnapfel designed and executed it. Kühnapfel also created the bronze ambo from 1983. It features the symbols of the Evangelists. Hanns Dinnendahl created the dominant altar cross in 1937. It depicts Christ’s resurrection. The corpus is made of limewood and measures over four meters.
In the western entrance area, you can find the bronze figure “The Merciful Father.” Opposite it stands the bronze sculpture “Listening Joseph.” Hilde Schürk-Frisch created both in 1985 and 1956 respectively.
The wall mosaic in the eastern arch of the north aisle was designed by Egon Stratmann. During renovations in 1983, the mosaic was extended downwards. Wilhelm Polders created the tabernacle. Kühnapfel designed a bronze stele with root-shaped extensions. Above the shrine, there is a chalice-shaped bronze light bowl with an oil lamp. To the right of the niche, a console holds the statue of St. Markus.
Helge Kühnapfel also designed the bronze side portal in the northwest. Six bronze reliefs on the exterior and interior illustrate the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. They depict five female figures with oil lamps and an olive tree.
The apse of the south aisle serves as a baptistery. The old stone baptismal font from 1886 was returned here in 1983. Kühnapfel created the bronze top with biblical scenes in 1983.
The stained glass windows add color. Ernst Küppers, Franz Pauli, and Eduard Horst created them. They were installed between 1953 and 1960.
St. Markus stands as a spiritual anchor. It connects the past with the present. Its art and architecture offer a space for reflection. It encourages all who visit to contemplate faith.