Oddly shaped, isn’t it? St.-Philippus-Kirche is not your typical church. Locals affectionately call it St. Seehund or Seal Church. This nickname comes from its unique design. Some say it resembles a seal balancing a ball on its nose.
Let’s delve into the story of St.-Philippus-Kirche. The church’s community was established on April 1 1956. It separated from St. Thomas parish in Brandenbaum. The plans for a church existed since 1953. Initially, services took place in a small room. This room was located in a savings bank near the Kaufhof department store. Later, services moved to the Meesen barracks.
The foundation stone for St.-Philippus-Kirche was laid on July 7 1956. Bishop Heinrich Meyer consecrated the church on March 24 1957. The rectory was built in 1960. Gerhard Langmaack, an architect from Hamburg, designed the church. The long brick building features a pitched roof. The roof slopes from south to north. A long, drawn-out sphere tops the roof turret. A cross crowns the sphere.
In 2022, St. Philippus Church joined with the Church of the Resurrection. They also joined with St. Thomas Church. Together, they formed the Evangelical Lutheran Parish of Marli-Brandenbaum Lubeck.
Inside St.-Philippus-Kirche, the stained-glass windows dominate the space. Emil Grassert designed these colourful windows. The windows in the altar area depict the Passion of Christ. Three smaller windows in the main room continue this theme. They show instruments of torture. The remaining small windows celebrate creation. The skylights have a round shape. They are on the west wall. They display the Christ monogram. Also, a globe with a cross, Alpha and Omega are there. The newest window is titled “Moon Night, Shadows from the Mount of Olives”. It was installed in 1996.
Two bells reside in the church’s turret. Rincker bell foundry cast them in 1960. The larger bell bears an inscription around its shoulder. It shows a cross on its flank. It also shows the name of the parish. The smaller bell bears an inscription around its shoulder too. Plus, the foundry mark.
The organ in St.-Philippus-Kirche comes from Friedrich Weigle. The company is from Echterdingen. It was built in 1958. It was re-voiced in 1965. A tremulant was added in 1979.
So, St.-Philippus-Kirche stands as a testament to modern church architecture. Its unique design and rich history make it a special landmark in Lubeck. It is a place of worship and a symbol of community. It is also a work of art.