Herz-Jesu-Kirche, Gothic Revival Catholic church in Geestemünde, Germany

The Herz-Jesu-Kirche is a red-brick Gothic Revival hall church built in 1910–11 to plans by Heinrich Flügel. A 53-metre tower with a slate spire and two black-and-gold clock faces rises on the east side of the north portal block. Inside, the white nave has two short bays, a star-vaulted choir, and altarpiece furnishings in Roman travertine by Walter Mellmann.

The parish planned its own church from 1900, and an anonymous donor offered 60,000 marks on condition that both new churches in Geestemünde and Lehe be dedicated to the Sacred Heart. Heinrich Flügel's design was chosen, the foundation stone laid on 31 July 1910, and Bishop Adolf Bertram consecrated the church on 17 September 1911; total cost was 235,000 marks. On the evening of 18 September 1944 an air raid set the church and parish house on fire, and they burned out. The roof was re-covered in 1949, the first service after the war was held at Easter 1950, and Vicar General Wilhelm Offenstein re-consecrated the church on 17 September 1950.

The parish was founded in 1908 and raised to a full parish in 1919. Its name comes from a donor's condition: an anonymous benefactor gave 60,000 marks for two new churches on the proviso that both be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The parish counted 2,392 members in 1912 and 7,049 in 2008, including the branch communities of Loxstedt and Wulsdorf.

The church is centrally located in the Geestemünde neighborhood near the main train station and is easy to reach on foot. Keep in mind that access may be limited during services and private events taking place inside.

The church burned out in the air raid of 18 September 1944, and services moved to the organ gallery fitted up as an emergency chapel. The bells tell another story: after World War I only the Bernward bell remained, until three more were added in 2001, restoring a four-bell peal heard far across Geestemünde.