St. Nicholas Church, Catholic church in Vorstadt, Kiel, Germany.
Propsteikirche St. Nikolaus is a three-aisled brick basilica with a polygonal apse and modern stained glass windows that mark its straightforward architectural design. The interior feels bright and clearly structured, with a liturgical area visibly separated from the side aisles.
The first Catholic services in Kiel after the Reformation were held from 1798 by the French migrant priest Abbé Dupé. The neo-Gothic brick basilica, designed by Arnold Güldenpfennig and built by the Kiel architect Bornatsch, was begun in 1890 and consecrated in 1893 by Bishop Bernhard Höting of Osnabrück. Bombed in 1943, it was rebuilt by Otto Schnittger in 1966/67, when the northwest facade and tower were completely redesigned.
The parish keeps a winged altarpiece from 1515, given to the community when the church was built in 1890. Opened, it shows the Virgin and Child with Saints Barbara and Margaret; closed, painted scenes from the life of Saint Nicholas. Its origin in the Lower Rhenish art circle is no longer clearly established.
Visitors should note that the church may be limited in access for sightseeing during worship services. Those seeking more information about its history and current programs can inquire during office hours with the pastoral staff.
The tower holds Kiel's heaviest steel bell set, cast in 1950 by the Bochumer Verein. Its four bells sound the notes h°, d', e' and g', and the full peal is rung only on special occasions. The church also appears on Kiel's 1997 Christmas cup.
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