Have you noticed the soaring tower? It marks the spot of Zu den Heiligen Engeln. This church stands as an early example of modern church architecture. It rose from the need for a larger parish. Let’s delve into its story.
Zu den Heiligen Engeln serves a parish of about 6,000 Catholics. It is part of the Maria Königin der Engel parish association. The church’s history began with a pressing need. The Catholic community grew rapidly in 1942. A former tin foundry became a makeshift church. It was dedicated “To the Holy Angels.”
In 1946, Michael Cardinal von Faulhaber consecrated a larger temporary church. “Zu den Heiligen Engeln” became a parish curacy. The present church building began in 1954. Architect Hansjakob Lill designed it. It was consecrated as a parish church on October 23, 1955. The parish center followed. It included a kindergarten, a day-care center, offices, and a parish hall. The expansion continued until the mid-1960s. In 1975, the Chapel of Mary transformed into a weekday and sacramental chapel.
Hansjakob Lill implemented liturgical reform ideas before the Second Vatican Council. He moved the altar to the center of the community. Traditionally, altars stood against the back wall. The Bayerische Denkmalliste recognizes Zu den Heiligen Engeln as a historical monument.
The church consists of three interconnected structures. The 45-meter-high bell tower stands tall. Its concrete lantern-like bell chamber is visible from afar. A small weekday chapel connects the tower. The main hall of the church measures 24 x 31 meters. Two intersecting roof vaults form a Latin cross. Large windows punctuate all four walls. Concrete pillars divide them. The west side of the vault projects over the main entrance. It provides shelter.
Inside, the intersecting roof vaults create a unique space. Four slender steel supports hold them up. These supports mark the altar area. The altar is slightly raised. Seating surrounds it on three sides. Two narrow columns support the organ loft. It extends into the hall above the main portal.
The sacristy and other parish center buildings adjoin the main hall. The east wall of the courtyard serves as a memorial. A wooden crucifix and embedded clay tablets honor war casualties. They also remember prisoners executed in the nearby Stadelheim prison.
Albert Burkart designed the interior’s striking stained-glass windows. The Mayer’sche Hofkunstanstalt created these windows. They depict themes related to the church’s dedication to the angels. The north window shows Archangel Michael fighting evil. The east window, above the altar, depicts Golgotha. An angel offers a chalice to the community. The south window shows the Annunciation. Archangel Gabriel announces Jesus’ birth to Mary. The west window features trumpets. They call from the heavens to the Last Judgment.
Reliefs of the seven sacraments adorn the underside of the organ loft. Here, you will find the baptismal font. Hansjakob Lill designed both the font and the altar table. A large copper crucifix hangs above the altar. It displays a tunic-clad Christ figure. Roland Friederichsen crafted it. The bronze ambo, an Easter candlestick, and altar candlesticks decorate the altar. Max Faller, a Munich sculptor, created them. A painted statue of the Madonna and Child adorns the north wall. Hubert Elsässer sculpted it from natural stone. A life-sized figure of the scourged Christ stands to the right of the altar. An image of the Last Supper is on the left.
The cube-shaped tabernacle stands in the weekday chapel. Johann Michael Wilm, a goldsmith from Munich, created it. It stood on the church’s altar table until 1975.
Zu den Heiligen Engeln stands as a testament to architectural innovation. It represents a vibrant parish community. Its art and design invite reflection and contemplation.