Evangelical Church Essen-Werden

The picturesque church on Heckstrasse in Essen-Werden This is probably the most unusual Protestant church in Germany. The church of the Protestant parish Essen-Werden was built by the government architect August Senz in the style of the German Renaissance during the Reformation, and the interior is also unusually opulent for a Protestant church. The church, located between Heckstraße and Dudenstraße, was built through donations from the Werdener family and the family Krupp realized. Today, the brick hall church with Art Nouveau windows is a listed building.

The Protestant Church on Heckstrasse was built between 1897 and 1900, initially by, and later according to, the plans of the architect August Senz in the Historicist style. It was named the "Protestant City Church" of the then independent city of Werden on the Ruhr River and was finally consecrated on June 24, 1900, after a construction period of only three years.

The church was built as a centrally planned structure, welcoming visitors with a light-filled, spacious, warm, and high-ceilinged interior. The dome is supported by four massive, soaring columns. Organic colors and forms can be found throughout: branches, leaves, and fruits, as well as palm fronds and blossoms—including roses, passionflowers, and colorful wildflowers. Through the use of Art Nouveau elements, the beauty of God's botanical creation is celebrated and honored.

The pulpit altar on the altar wall places the two most important elements of Protestant worship at the center: the sermon and Holy Communion. The dominant round window depicts the ancient Christian cross, which also reflects the floor plan of the church.
A striking number of cherub heads – 77 in total – adorn the pulpit, capitals, doors, organ case, and wall paintings. Each of these cherub heads is individually designed and unique – one of many distinctive features. After decades of problems with damp and mold, the church underwent extensive restoration and renovation, both inside and out, from 1987 to 2002.

Friends of organ playing and church music should definitely visit the Protestant Church on Heckstraße, as it boasts two organs: the Walcker organ and the Teschemacher Positive. The latter is a small Baroque organ dating from 1750. Built by the Wuppertal firm Teschemacher, it is said to be the world's oldest playable organ in its original condition. It's no wonder, then, that the church is a magnet for organ enthusiasts and church music lovers.

The collaboration with the nearby Folkwang University of the Arts, The exhibition focuses on the listed, late-Romantic Walcker organ. It is highly regarded as an exceptional instrument – even by internationally renowned organists. The organ is characterized by a wide range of sounds with subtle gradations. Apart from minor alterations, the instrument has been preserved in its original condition.

The construction of the church was made possible in the first place by members of the Protestant congregation. Although the congregation was small at the time, it had a number of well-to-do members, and Werden on the Ruhr was then a prosperous town in its own right. Services were held in private homes, and so the desire grew for a dedicated, representative church building, architecturally modeled on the basilica. The Krupp family acted as a major donor. In addition, the Forstmann, Feulgen, Huffmann, and Teschemacher families, along with many individual donors, contributed capital to the church's construction.

The Protestant Church on Heckstraße can be visited once a week, on Open Church Day. Members of the Church Tour Working Group offer guided tours lasting approximately one hour. Interested groups can arrange an individual appointment, which can also be enhanced by an organ recital upon request. Due to its unique features, the church is very popular for weddings. Other buildings belonging to the Protestant parish of Essen-Werden include... Haus Fuhr and that Haus Heck.