Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Kirche, Modern church in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Germany.
The Emmaus-Kirche, built in 1934/1935 to plans by Diez Brandi, is a red-orange brick hall church with a high pitched roof and a square side tower topped by a flat pyramid roof. Inside, wooden posts rise to a painted flat wooden ceiling and carry side galleries, dividing the space into three aisles. The flat rectangular altar niche lies to the west, and a larger entrance room fronts the east side.
The church was built in 1934/1935 to designs by Diez Brandi, who won a 1930 competition open only to Protestant Zehlendorf architects. A 200,000-mark interest-free public loan in March 1934 enabled construction, though the planned community hall, kindergarten and staff flats were dropped. It was named after Ernst Moritz Arndt until a 2019 council vote, and has been called Emmaus-Kirche since Easter 2022.
The church was named after Ernst Moritz Arndt from 1934, a choice meant as a Christian and patriotic statement against Nazi rejection of Christianity. In May 2019 the parish council voted 6 to 4 to rename it, and since Easter 2022 it has been the Emmaus-Kirche and Ev. Emmaus-Kirchengemeinde. The name refers to the biblical road to Emmaus.
Visiting is possible during daytime without special registration, as it is an accessible community building. Weekdays are the best time to visit when fewer events are scheduled and you can explore the architecture peacefully.
The church was named after Ernst Moritz Arndt from June 1934, a deliberate vote against Nazi rejection of Christianity; the parish council voted 6 to 4 to rename it in May 2019 over Arndt's militant-nationalist and antisemitic statements, and since Easter 2022 it has been the Emmaus-Kirche.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,043 contributors worldwide.
