Christ König, Modern Catholic church in Uellendahl-Katernberg, Wuppertal, Germany
Christ König is a modern Catholic church in Uellendahl-Katernberg with a rectangular floor plan and construction using local rubble stone, surrounded by a continuous band of light along the upper structure. The building forms a unified architectural complex with a community hall and rectory, completed between 1959 and 1960.
The building was designed by architect Joachim Schürmann and constructed between 1959 and 1960 to serve the growing population in Wuppertaler Nordhöhen after World War II. This new structure was part of the city's expansion into residential areas during the postwar period.
The interior walls display Stations of the Cross carved directly into ungrouted stone blocks, created by local artist Krzysztof Juretko beginning in 2000. These works give the space a personal artistic character that strengthens the spiritual presence of the place.
The site includes spaces beyond the church itself that are used for community activities and events. The area offers plenty of room to walk around, though it is worth checking for specific times when the interior is open to visitors.
The building deliberately omits traditional church elements like towers or ornate facades, instead focusing on creating an inward-facing, meditative interior space. This reduction to essentials makes the place a rare example of postwar modernism that expresses spirituality through simplicity.
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