Christ-König-Kirche, Filial church in Bochum, Germany.
Christ-König-Kirche is a red-brick Catholic church on the Steinring, built 1931–32 to designs by Düsseldorf architect Franz Schneider for a Franciscan monastery. Its broad front is topped by a steep tiled gable with a small cross; four arched windows sit beneath a pitched canopy, and three round-arched doorways open above a wide flight of light stone steps. A lower brick wing with a large arched door extends to the right.
The church was constructed from 1931 to 1932 and suffered severe damage from an aerial mine in 1944, leaving only foundation walls standing. Reconstruction followed the original design to restore the building for continued use.
The name Kulturtankstelle was given to the church when the Diocese of Essen made it its cultural filling station for the Ruhr's Capital of Culture year 2010. Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck approved its use as an art church from 1 January 2010, on condition that the Blessed Sacrament and tabernacle be removed and Sunday Mass stop. Some 40 exhibitions were held there up to 2019, and in summer 2026 it serves as a venue of Manifesta 16 Ruhr.
The church stands on the Steinring in Bochum's southern inner city, its main portal reached by a wide flight of light stone steps; a lower brick wing with a large arched door extends to the right. Since 1 January 2010 it has served as an art church, with Sunday Mass no longer held there, so visitors should check locally before planning a visit.
The Stations of the Cross were painted under glass by artist Claus Kilian and feature special backlighting through structural modifications to the building. This artistic approach creates an unusual luminous effect in the interior space.
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