Gone but not forgotten. That’s the story of Berlin’s Zufluchtskirche. This church in Spandau’s Falkenhagener Feld stood at Westerwaldstrasse 16-18. It wasn’t just any church. The Zufluchtskirche held a special place in the hearts of many.
The Zufluchtskirche was more than bricks and mortar. It was a refuge. After World War II a refugee camp for displaced people from the eastern German territories arose on the site of a police barracks. A new church community formed. They called themselves the Zufluchtskirchengemeinde the Church of Refuge.
Initially services were held in a former casino. Later a stable was converted into a community center. Its prayer room the Zufluchtskapelle was consecrated on May 18 1950 Ascension Day. The Zufluchtskirchengemeinde became independent on January 1 1952.
Starting in 1960 a large housing estate with high-rise buildings was constructed in Falkenhagener Feld. Many families with children moved into the family-friendly rental apartments. The Zufluchtskirchengemeinde supported this community. So they built a new community center with more space. Its prayer room was consecrated on May 27 1965. The Zufluchtskirche itself followed in 1967.
Designed by Bodo Fleischer the church was a striking building. Its floor sloped gently from the entrance to the altar. Bronze reliefs adorned the altar and baptismal font. Waldemar Otto created the pulpit and other church fixtures. The Zufluchtskirche had a distinctive trapezoidal shape. Its steeply pitched roof created a dramatic effect. Triangular window panes filled the walls. A bell tower stood beside the church. Four bronze bells hung within its tower. They were cast by Petit & Gebr Edelbrock.
The church’s organ had one manual with 54 keys and a pedal board with 27 keys. It boasted six stops and 393 pipes. It was a creation of E F Walcker & Cie. The Zufluchtskirche stood at the edge of a square. A covered passageway connected the bell tower to the triangular sacristy. Nearby a multi-winged single-story building housed a kindergarten.
Sadly the Zufluchtskirche’s story ended in 2022. The congregation had to give up the church building. The church was deconsecrated in a special service. Despite protests the Spandau district office insisted on its demolition. A new community center and theater workshop were planned for the site. The demolition took place between April and September 2023. Only the residential buildings to the north remained. Today only memories and photographs remain of Berlin’s Zufluchtskirche a testament to its unique history and architectural style.