The eye-catching architecture of the former Catholic St. Paulus Church in Ingelheim-West represented a completely new type of place of worship.
This extraordinary church building by Swiss architect Justus Dahinden symbolized Ingelheim's cosmopolitan present.
The church's new construction, which included community and youth rooms, was planned under Pastor Helmut Sohns (1935-2018). In 2024, the church was desecrated and is now used as a kindergarten.
In the late 1970s, the renowned Zurich architect and professor Justus Dahinden (1925 - 2020) received the planning assignment. He views architecture as "a service for the whole person". He develops a "philosophy of incline." The tilting of the facade into the slopes, which characterizes the construction of St. Paulus, reduces the feeling of threat in order to achieve a harmonious relationship between humans and space. Following an important concern of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Dahinden planned an open space where worshippers could gather around the central "people's altar" (versus populum).
In the former church space that was consecrated by Bishop Cardinal Volk in 1981, there is a geometric, almost futuristic simplicity. Many walls are constructed at an angle, which, according to Justus Dahinden, brings about something wonderful: "Heaven opens up!" The fascinating exterior facade of St. Paulus is also characterized by this simplicity.
Inside the modern and deliberately unadorned former church, which emphasized simple geometric forms and presented itself simply and without much pomp, there was a Klais organ (1997) and three sculptures (2012) by Mainz artist Rheinhold Petermann: a 2-meter tall Paulus, an elegant 60 cm large Madonna, and a crucifix pointing to the resurrection, as well as a futuristically shaped tabernacle. Twelve concrete crosses reminded of the 12 apostles; above them were wall sconces, also known as apostle candelabras.
St. Paulus saw itself as an open, welcoming place of encounter with a sustainable concept in fruitful ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.
