St. Joseph

St. Joseph is a Roman Catholic church in the Ostmannturmviertel district of Bielefeld, displaying Romanesque Revival features with a high main nave, barrel vaulting, and two side aisles. The prominent bell tower rises at August-Bebel-Straße 7 and defines the streetscape of the neighborhood.

Construction began in 1908 in response to Bielefeld's rapid growth during industrialization and the rising number of Catholic residents in the area. The building was consecrated on October 11, 1915, and was designed to accommodate around 4,600 worshippers.

The church serves today as a gathering space for diverse congregations, including Tamil and Deaf communities who hold their own services here. Its interior features an altar created by artist Heinrich Pütz in the 1950s, reflecting a more modern approach to religious space.

The church is easily accessible via August-Bebel-Straße in the heart of the neighborhood and can be explored on foot. Visitors should know that regular services take place and the building welcomes worshippers from different language communities.

The organ in this house of worship underwent a complete renovation in 2009 and now features more than 2,300 pipes spread across 34 registers. This restoration made the instrument a notable feature of the acoustic experience when visiting the space.