| A Church Story |
Architect George Bähr was commissioned by the council to design the church. It accommodated 3,500 worshipers and
towered nearly 350 feet over the city, assuming the nickname "die Steinerne Glocke" or "the stone bell". It was the most
important example of protestant church architecture in the world and it stood as a monument to the steadfast faith of the
Reformation until the morning of April 15,1945. In the aftermath of the fire bombing of Dresden, the massive dome
collapsed and the beautiful bronze Luther Monument by Ernst Rietschel was thrown violently from its pedestal.
towered nearly 350 feet over the city, assuming the nickname "die Steinerne Glocke" or "the stone bell". It was the most
important example of protestant church architecture in the world and it stood as a monument to the steadfast faith of the
Reformation until the morning of April 15,1945. In the aftermath of the fire bombing of Dresden, the massive dome
collapsed and the beautiful bronze Luther Monument by Ernst Rietschel was thrown violently from its pedestal.
Lutheran burghers of Dresden were shocked when Saxony’s Elector Augustus the Strong decided to convert from
Lutheranism to Catholicism to fulfill his political ambitions and assume the title of King of Poland. When he began to build
a pretentious Catholic cathedral across from his palace, the burghers decided to erect a Protestant church which would
rival the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The magnificent "Frauenkirche" was thence built in Dresden beginning in 1726 on
the site of an older existing church by that name which had fallen into disrepair.
Lutheranism to Catholicism to fulfill his political ambitions and assume the title of King of Poland. When he began to build
a pretentious Catholic cathedral across from his palace, the burghers decided to erect a Protestant church which would
rival the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The magnificent "Frauenkirche" was thence built in Dresden beginning in 1726 on
the site of an older existing church by that name which had fallen into disrepair.
The post war Communist East German
government plunked the damaged
Luther back in front of the pile of
rubble and refused to allow the
reconstruction of the church which lay
untouched in the heart of Dresden
for 45 years.
government plunked the damaged
Luther back in front of the pile of
rubble and refused to allow the
reconstruction of the church which lay
untouched in the heart of Dresden
for 45 years.
Of course, there were other churches in Dresden that receive less attention. The Austrian wife of Henry the Illustrious
brought a piece of the true cross with her as a gift to Dresden in the year 1234. It was initially kept in the Church of St.
Nicholas, the oldest church within Dresden's city walls, in a "chapel of the holy cross" which was built for the occasion.
brought a piece of the true cross with her as a gift to Dresden in the year 1234. It was initially kept in the Church of St.
Nicholas, the oldest church within Dresden's city walls, in a "chapel of the holy cross" which was built for the occasion.
Eleven young choir boys were among the thousands of civilians killed in the British and American bombing on February
13, 1945. As well as the terrible loss of its choristers, the famous choir also lost its its neogothic choir school on the
Georgplatz, its music/archive library and the ancient Kreuzkirche itself. Only the tower and exterior walls were preserved.
The first postwar vespers took place in front of the burnt out Kreuzkirche on August 4, 1945, above right, but the choir
couldn't take possession of its home again for ten years.
13, 1945. As well as the terrible loss of its choristers, the famous choir also lost its its neogothic choir school on the
Georgplatz, its music/archive library and the ancient Kreuzkirche itself. Only the tower and exterior walls were preserved.
The first postwar vespers took place in front of the burnt out Kreuzkirche on August 4, 1945, above right, but the choir
couldn't take possession of its home again for ten years.
On December 1, 1736 Johann Sebastian Bach gave an organ concert in Dresden that attracted much attention. It was the
first concert on the newly constructed Silbermann organ in the Frauenkirche.
first concert on the newly constructed Silbermann organ in the Frauenkirche.
Later, the entire church was named
for the chapel, ‘zum heiligen Kreuz.’
A boarding and music school for boys
was founded around the year 1300.
By the 17th century, in conjunction with
musicians of the Saxon court, their choir
used the court opera house for
performances. Until the end of the 19th
century, the renowned Kreuzchor also
took part in services in both the
Sophienkirche and the Frauenkirche and
they were pictured in various works of
art and sculpture. Both the Kreuzkirche
and its academy, the Kreuzschule, fell
victim to the Allied bombing of Dresden.
for the chapel, ‘zum heiligen Kreuz.’
A boarding and music school for boys
was founded around the year 1300.
By the 17th century, in conjunction with
musicians of the Saxon court, their choir
used the court opera house for
performances. Until the end of the 19th
century, the renowned Kreuzchor also
took part in services in both the
Sophienkirche and the Frauenkirche and
they were pictured in various works of
art and sculpture. Both the Kreuzkirche
and its academy, the Kreuzschule, fell
victim to the Allied bombing of Dresden.
before