Listen. Can you hear the echoes of hymns from within the Tersteegenkirche? This church stands as a testament to faith and community. It embodies a unique chapter in Dusselddorf’s religious story.
Tersteegenkirche is more than concrete and steel. It is a beacon of spiritual life in the Golzheim district. Consecrated in 1958, the Tersteegenkirche has been a place of worship and gathering. It has become a center for countless souls.
Its name honors Gerhard Tersteegen, a significant figure. He was a pietistic preacher and writer. Tersteegen’s life and teachings resonate with the church’s mission. He inspires its congregation. The church’s full name is Evangelische Tersteegenkirche. It reflects its Protestant roots. The Evangelische Tersteegen-Kirchengemeinde owns the church. This congregation belongs to the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland. Today, it counts around 2,000 members.
The Tersteegenkirche boasts a modernist design. It features a steel-concrete skeleton. Its irregular octagonal footprint makes it unique. A high pitched roof covers the church. The roof ridge runs across the central axis. It is shifted laterally. This creates two different sized roof surfaces. The iron roof construction has an acoustic ceiling inside. The side walls feature glazed precast concrete windows. They are arranged in a zigzag pattern. A wide concrete band divides them.
Inside, the Tersteegenkirche is simple and warm. It invites the community to dwell in its space. Blue Aachen marble covers the floor. The altar area uses Belgian marble. It elevates the space. Dutch hand-painted clinker bricks line the long walls. Larch wood forms the paneled wooden ceiling. This design serves acoustic and architectural purposes.
The gallery is free-standing and structurally unique. Its construction cleverly uses the heavy roof of the intermediate building. It serves as a counterweight. The two large gable windows feature colorful antique glass. This creates a tinted and subdued light. This light gives the room its special character. The doors are made of teak. The altar, font, and pulpit are made of green-black serpentine marble. The pews are made of Brazilian pine.
The sound canopy above the pulpit has a special design. Experts calculated its shape to carry the preacher’s voice. It ensures clear audibility throughout the high, wide room. Dark lamps minimize distractions. They preserve the room’s luminous beauty.
A large dark cross made of Cambala wood dominates the altar wall. It draws attention to the altar area. An inscription from Isaiah 40:8 appears on the altar wall. It reads: “The word of our God endures forever.” This saying accompanied the community. It stood as an inscription in a destroyed predecessor building. It reminds people that God’s word remains constant. It remains true amidst the transience of the world.
Outside the Tersteegenkirche, a copper relief commemorates Gerhard Tersteegen. Sculptor Herbert Kühn created it in 1966. It depicts people on a journey together. An inscription features Tersteegen’s lyrics. They read: “Come children, let us go, the evening is coming. It is dangerous to stand in this wilderness. Come, strengthen your courage to wander to eternity from one strength to another. The end is good.”
The Tersteegenkirche is also home to a notable organ. Karl Schuke from Berlin built it. Inaugurated in 1959, the three-manual Schuke organ features thirty-one stops. It serves during worship services and concerts.
The Tersteegenkirche owes its existence to the growing Protestant population. From 1950, the population in Dusseldorf’s Golzheim and Stockum districts grew. The Preacher’s Seminary of the Evangelical Church was connected to the community. It became the reason to name the church after Tersteegen.
So as we stand before this building. Let’s remember the Tersteegenkirche as not just a structure. It is a living story. It’s a place where community, faith, and history converge. Its doors are open. It welcomes all to experience its enduring message of hope.