The eventful history of the Propsteikirche
During World War II the original church was badly damaged, and it was finally demolished in 1954. A promise by the former rulers of the GDR to build a new church in the city centre was not kept. It was only in the late 1970s that a new church was erected near the zoo in Emil-Fuchs Straße, and then consecrated in 1982. However, structural defects and the swampy ground quickly created problems for the building. In recent years these difficulties became so pronounced that a new building was the only solution. The strong growth of the church's congregation over recent years also made a new building necessary.
Over the last 20 years the Leipzig parish of St. Trinitatis has grown from 1,934 to its current 4,700 members, and the consecration of the new church sees the realisation of a long-cherished wish on the part of the church's congregation.
Mass with a message from the Pope
On the occasion of the consecration mass on Saturday, 10 May 2015, the Pope sent a message of greeting, saying: "The consecration of the new Propsteikirche in Leipzig is a special day of joy for the Catholic community, as well as for all people in this city and beyond its borders."
Dr. Heiner Koch, Bishop of the Diocese of Dresden-Meissen, thanked the architects, artists and builders for their work and "the city of Leipzig, its leaders and its citizens for their solidarity."
Sustainability in constructing the House of God
The new Propsteikirche was designed by Leipzig architects "Schulz & Schulz Architekten". The edifice includes the church and a community centre, together with apartments for priests and a caretaker. It is especially remarkable for its facade built entirely from "Rochlitz porphyry", the red volcanic rock which has been used as a building material in Leipzig and central Germany for centuries.
Heating and cooling are implemented via geothermal probes at a depth of 140 m. In addition, power is generated by solar panels on the facade and roof of the church. The electricity produced is enough to meet the needs of 20 typical households, while a separate service water circuit also reduces water consumption considerably. LED lamps have been used almost everywhere for the lighting installation. With a share of renewable energy of approximately 76% the church produces most of the energy that it needs on site.
The church was built over a two-year construction period directly opposite Leipzig's Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), but with its 50 metre high tower it remains significantly below the level of its secular neighbour. A special feature of the new building is its consistent observance of the principle of sustainability, resulting from close cooperation with Germany's Federal Environmental Foundation (Bundesstiftung Umwelt - DBU). Even at the architectural competition stage the designs were evaluated against 20 supplementary sustainability criteria.