Imagine a beacon of hope amidst post-war reconstruction. That is the Stephanuskirche. It is a modern church in Frankfurt’s Unterliederbach district. This church stands as a testament to community and faith.
Unterliederbach was first mentioned around 1200. It was known as inferior Liderbach. For centuries, the village church was the only place of worship. In 1927, Unterliederbach became part of Frankfurt. After World War II, new residential areas emerged. The growing population needed a second Protestant church.
The Stephanuskirche’s construction was part of this development. Oberbaurat Ernst Görcke and architects Arnold Rakete and Ludwig-Eberhard Müller planned it. They were from the Evangelical Church Association’s building department. The church was dedicated on April 29, 1964. It is named after the martyr Stephanus.
From 2001 to 2002, architects Meixner, Schlüter, and Wendt renovated the church. They added a portal building to the south. This addition serves as a community center and entrance. The Evangelical Church of Unterliederbach belongs to the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau.
The Stephanuskirche sits in a green space. It is about 400 meters southeast of the village center. The church is between Liederbacher Straße and the Liederbach stream. This location places it at the heart of the post-war settlements.
The church faces east and has a trapezoidal layout. It is about 35 meters long and 14 to 20 meters wide. The entrance is in the south. A 24-meter-high bell tower stands slightly apart to the southeast. A glazed corridor connects it to the church. A three-meter-high, gilded cross tops the tower.
Concrete and light-colored brick make up the walls. The exterior is painted white. Inside, the brickwork and roof structure are visible. The slightly sloping flat roof rises toward the altar area.
Inside, two large window walls create bright light. The stained glass windows are by Hans Heinrich Adam. Hans Bernd Gossel executed them. These glass pieces are several centimeters thick and set in concrete. The south wall is 185 m² and depicts Stephen’s defense speech. The smaller north wall shows his stoning.
Sculptor Christian Peschke created the altar, altar cross, candlesticks, font, and pulpit. Altar and font are made of greenish flamed diabase. The pulpit is concrete with diabase strips. The cross and candlesticks are bronze. The altar cross has small images depicting the life of Jesus. Architect Rakete designed the windows in the bell tower. Hans Heinrich Adam created the ornamental windows in the connecting corridor.
The church has five bells. The Rincker bell foundry cast them in 1962. The bells bear inscriptions. They proclaim messages of glory, peace, truth, faith, and divine presence. The Stephanuskirche today has 500 seats with variable seating. A new organ was built in 2012. The surrounding park is used for outdoor events.
The Stephanuskirche stands not only as a place of worship. It also stands as a symbol of renewal and community spirit in Frankfurt-Unterliederbach. Its architecture and art tell a story of faith. This story continues to resonate with all who enter its doors.