Sankt Laurentius, Neoclassical church in Wuppertal, Germany

Sankt Laurentius is a Neoclassical church built of pink sandstone with white cornice bands, designed by Adolph von Vagedes and completed in 1835. Its south-facing double-tower facade opens onto Laurentiusplatz, and the interior has a black-and-white checkerboard aisle leading to a gold and dark-brown high altar.

The parish bought the Osterfeld west of Elberfeld in 1828 on the initiative of pastor Stephan Oberrhé, and Cologne auxiliary bishop Karl Adalbert Freiherr von Beyer laid the foundation stone on 10 August 1828. Technical and financial difficulties delayed the building, which opened on 8 November 1835; Archbishop Johannes von Geissel consecrated it on 11 July 1847. Fire bombs destroyed church and furnishings in the air raid of 24/25 June 1943; reopening came at Christmas 1949, full restoration lasted until 1974, and in December 2013 it became a papal Basilica minor.

The church serves as a gathering place for the local community where regular services bring people together throughout the year. Inside, the sound of the two large organs fills the space and shapes the spiritual experience for those who visit.

The church is open daily and visitors can enter at most times, though regular services take place throughout the week. It is advisable to check local information to find visiting times that do not conflict with religious services.

The church houses seven bronze bells in its west tower that ring for special occasions and carry a distinctive sound across the city. The larger of the two organs was built by Romanus Seifert in 1964 and represents the organ-building craftsmanship of that era.