American Church in Berlin
The American Church was originally called the Luther Church and this name is still used sometimes. However, after the discovery that the American people who lived in Berlin had nowhere to go to worship it was renamed the American Church or the ABC in 1905. The American Church is located in the
Schoeneberg district of Berlin. It was designed and built by the architect Johannes Otzen between 1891 and 1894 and was consecrated in the company of the German Empress, Auguste Viktoria on May 5 1894. The general design is based on a Neo-Gothic style although there are some aspects characteristic of other architectural styles.
The church received slight damage during World War II; the two original inward bending galleries at the end of the church wing as well as the gallery for the organ were destroyed, but the pictorial program about the history of the Luther Church was left intact. The site was reconstructed in 1972 and its interior is unique. The walls are covered with mosaics of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and the Twelve Disciples. Some walls, which remained after the bombing have been left unchanged as tributes to the Jewish community in Berlin. The seating in the church is also exceptional, seats are arranged in the centre in the manner of the cross arms of the transept.
Additionally, there is a marble, Greek style crucifix (longer beams with Jesus Christ on it), the letters of the Alpha and Omega, a beautiful statue of Dr. Martin Luther and two reliefs with the topics 'Luther at the Reichstag in Worms' and 'Elector Joachim II introducing the Reformation in Brandenburg'; these were installed in the church in 1539. There are also many stained glass windows, which when the sun shines through, give the impression of “feeling of his view of God's presence in our church and in our lives.” The exterior is also very sophisticated and gleams with history.
The church roof is reminiscent of another of Berlin’s churches, the Friedrichswerdersche Kirche, but a lot smaller. This green roofing is very typical of the era in which the ABC was built. Located on the top tower is the Jesus Christ and the crucifix. Today the church’s purpose is to serve its community with regular services, but it also serves as an art gallery and museum. Within the museum section is some fine works of the architecture used on the building and information on the history of the church. The gallery holds the pictures of what the church was like before World War II.
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