- Frauenfriedenskirche
The Frauenfriedenskirche (German for "Women's Peace Church") is a
Roman Catholic church inBockenheim ,Frankfurt am Main (Germany ). It was built byHans Herkommer from 1927 to 1929, on a rise then known as "Ginnheimer Höhe". The church is an unusual example ofinterwar modernist church architecture, combining elements of expressionism with the "New Objectivity" of Bauhaus architecture, and using monumentalmosaic s for external and internal decoration.The plan to build such a church was developed in 1916 by
Hedwig Dransfeld , then chairperson of the "Katholischer Deutscher Frauenbund" (Catholic German Women's Organisation). The church was meant to represent a prayer for peace in stone and also serve as a memorial for the fallen of theFirst World War . The foundation money initially collected for the project was lost due to the 1914-1923 German hyperinflation.The church was finally completed on
5 May 1929 and handed to the Catholic congregation of Bockenheim. It was badly damaged in theSecond World War , and afterwards rebuilt with money donated for the purpose. The names of any German soldiers killed or missing in either World War were displayed in the church in return for a donation.Architecture
The church, its rectory, and the parish halls form an architectural unit, together with the 18 by 30 metres (59 by 98 ft) memorial yard. The church's west facade is dominated by a 25 metres (82 ft) high portal structure, or tower, subdivided by three high round arches. The middle arch contains a monumental
mosaic -covered statue of Mary as Queen of Peace. The mosaic in the left arch depicts the motifs night, mourning and a sword, symbolisingwar , the one on the right symbolisespeace by depicting the sun, happiness and flowers. The mosaics are by the sculptorEmil Sutor .Below the triple-aisled 18 m (59 ft) tall nave, there is a
crypt , containing a "pietà " byRuth Schaumann . In the nave, the altar is 2 m above floor level. Above it is a monumental mosaic byFriedrich Eberz . It depicts the crucifiedJesus , below him Mary, Mother of Jesus, pierced by seven swords.Equipment
The organ of the Frauenfriedenskirche was built by the company "Siegfried Sauer" in
Höxter in 1996. It has 45 stops, electricaltracker action , three keyboards and pedals.Since 1956, the church has had six bells.
ources
External links
* [http://www.frauenfrieden.com Frauenfrieden parish website]
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