Picture a ship navigating through time. That’s how the first pastor Cornelius Freiherr von Geyr envisioned St. Michael-Kirche. He collaborated with architect Toni Kleefisch to bring this concept to life. Together, they designed St. Michael-Kirche in Bonn.
Now, look at the facade. Do you notice anything ship-like? The rosette window above the entrance resembles a ship’s porthole. Cornelius Freiherr von Geyr actually designed it. The wave-like design on the ceiling connects the outside to the inside.
St. Michael-Kirche began with a groundbreaking on November 5, 1952. The foundation stone was laid on March 15, 1953. The church was consecrated on November 7, 1953. It is located on Rheinbacher Street in Bonn’s Weststadt district.
Pause for a moment and consider the architecture. Toni Kleefisch from Bonn designed St. Michael-Kirche. The church features a tall nave. It also has a side aisle. It bears some resemblance to St. Bernhard in Auerberg. St. Bernhard was built shortly afterwards.
The church is a rectangular brick building. It is white plastered. Inside, it has a hall-like space with a side aisle and a crypt. Helmut Degenhard from Beuel created the church windows.
Notice the simple materials inside. Wood and natural stone dominate the interior. The chancel has light accents from many clear round windows. To the left of the chancel, you can see a figure. It is the battling St. Michael on a dragon. This is the church’s namesake. A wooden statue of Mary stands to the right. It likely came from a Burgundian workshop in the 15th century.
Consider the baptismal font. It is made of red sandstone. The font reflects typical 1950s design. Architect Kleefisch co-designed it. The Gresser Brothers from Ochsenfurt produced it. An enamel work decorates the font’s cover. This connects it to the tabernacle. Fourteen windows in the side aisle show the Stations of the Cross. The organ has 30 registers. It comes from the Klais company in Bonn.
The weekday chapel sits to the south, near the entrance. Its windows are mostly dark green and blue. They depict the first four articles of the Creed. Helmut Degenhard from Beuel designed them. The Derix company in Kevelar created them. Inside the chapel, you will find a Pieta made of limewood. It dates back to the 15th century. It comes from the Riemenschneider school.
The bell tower stands apart. It connects to the church via a corridor. Its simplicity and round windows mirror the church’s style. The tower holds five bells. They are named Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Josef, and Maria.
Consider also the parish hall. It was completed in 1963. It is in a separate building behind the church. The crypt was consecrated in 1956. The bells were consecrated in 1965.
St. Michael-Kirche offers more than just a place of worship. The city of Bonn gifted the community a crucifixion group in light sandstone. It stands before the side portal. It embodies architectural vision and spiritual depth. It reminds us of faith’s journey through time.