Guter Hirt, Modern concrete church in Hildesheim, Germany

Guter Hirt is a modern church in Hildesheim built with exposed concrete and an irregular polygonal design that abandons the traditional church layout. The interior spaces are shaped entirely by raw concrete surfaces that create a distinctive play of light.

Plans for the church began in the 1960s as the surrounding Fahrenheit area was built up, cut by arterial roads and railway lines. A kindergarten followed in 1966, where services were first held, then a parish hall in 1968 and the rectory in 1969. The church itself was built in 1969 and consecrated on 21 December 1969. The parish was established on 1 September 1970 from parts of the St. Johannes and St. Elisabeth parishes, raised to a parish in 1982, dissolved in 2004 and assigned to Mariä Lichtmess in 2006.

The church takes its name from the Gospel of John, "I am the good shepherd" (Jn 10:11). The surrounding Fahrenheit area is one of Hildesheim's socially weaker districts with high turnover and a large migrant share, so parish life has had a charitable accent from the start. Its Social Lunch Table, a daily open offer, became known across the city and region; in 2009 it was extended with a Social Goods Hall.

The building sits at the corner of Altfriedweg and Fahrenheitstrasse, surrounded by residential blocks. Note that access may be limited at certain times, so checking ahead is helpful for planning a visit.

The large concrete relief above the entrance depicts Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit. Inside, the furnishings were designed in 1969 by Hildesheim artist Paul König (1932–2015), so the building's concrete shell and its fittings come from the same year.