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Save St Catherine's

Rettet die Katharinenkirche e.V.

The association for the restoration and preservation of St. Catherine's Church, Stuttgart.

The Old Catholic church of St. Catherine's is known by everyone in Stuttgart as the "English Church". It was built at the edge of the Bohnenviertel in 1863 for the English congregation of this city and has belonged to the Old Catholic congregation since 1951. Today the church is used by both the Old Catholic and the Anglican congregations.

The church was constructed in neo-Gothic style and is showing its age. It is not only almost 150 years old but has also had to contend with extensive damage during World War II. Its reconstruction took place under the most difficult of economic circumstances and this resulted in it having to change its appearance. The two side aisles were replaced by lower structures, housing the sacristy and the small community hall, and the belfry, which was totally destroyed by an air raid, had to be rebuilt ina different manner.

As a result there is now a wooden vaulted roof above the nave. The only reminder of the former tall neo-Gothic belfry is a small, modest bell tower. Thus the eventful history of the church is reflected both internally and externally.

It would be neither economical nor ideal to undo the alterations of the past and to put the church back to its original state before the war. But one cannot escape seeing that the structure of the building is in a very sorry state and that extensive restoration works are necessary. In addition there are several defects affecting the usage of the building which need to be corrected.

A fire in the community hall in January 2006 resulted in remedial works to the interior of the church having to be started earlier than planned, as the nave had to be completely cleaned.

Here is a list of essential measures which need to be done:

  • The masonry by the foundations has to be dried out and protected against damp by way of a damp course and the installation of a drainage system.
  • The masonry in the church is showing its age and is in a very bad condition. The sandstone used is not really weather resistant nor is it of the best quality. It is damp, damaged and suffering externally from weathering. It is essential that the masonry is extensively cleaned, some of the stones replace and pointing renewed etc. Some of the masonry was temporarily patched up after the war using remnants found in the debris and these will have to be replaced. External sculptures will have to be replaced, except those in the entrance area which were restored in 1992/93.
  • The window frames will have to be protected against corrosion and some of the glazing will have to be replaced.
  • The belfry, which was a simple wooden replacement for the original tower, is rotten and needs to be replaced in its entirety. - completed
  • The roof needs to be completely restored and the roof ridge re-tiled. - completed
  • The lightning protection is to be checked and partially renewed. - completed
  • All the gutters and down pipes have to be renewed. - completed
  • The flooring in the nave, which had been temporarily patched up after the war using differing and cheep bits of material, is to be replaced together with the sub-structure.
  • The whole electrical system, which is over 50 years old, must be replaced.
  • The heating under the pews, which is old and for the most part ineffective, is to be replaced and additional heating is to be installed in the altar area and along the west wall.
  • The inadequate lighting in the nave is to be completely replaced. - completed
  • Wall and ceiling surfaces in the whole of the interior are to be repaired and repainted. - completed
  • The storage facilities are completely inadequate and the situation is to be resolved by installing additional cupboards by the entrance. Temporary storage in the rear part of the nave is to be removed. - completed
  • All old wooden fittings such as the porch, pews, organ etc. are to be restored and repainted and new and old fittings are to be painted in a uniform colour.
  • The appearance of the area outside the church plus the number of dustbins in the Olgastrasse are to be improved.

All the above word should be carried out as soon as possible and as you can see progress has been made in some areas. From an economical point of view it is recommended that the work be done in two stages;
1. Interior work 235,000 Euro
2. Exterior work 165,000 Euro

Total estimated cost: 400,000 Euro

In addition to supporting the many fund raising events held at St Catherine's donations can be made to:
Rettet die Katharinenkirche e.V.
Evangelische Kreditgenossenschaft Kassel
BLZ 520 604 10
Kontonr. 413 267

For full details of the renovation project (in German) please see http://katharinenkirche.alt-katholisch.info/