St Michael I

/St Michael I

1999 until today

1999 | 8 | 5|

As part of the newly designed gardens surrounding Engelbecken, the Buddha sculpture was reconstructed in 1999. In 2001, an association was founded to support the conservation of St. Michael’s, which is still a ruin today. Engelbecken now functions as a lake – and is within walking distance of the church.

1961 – 1989

1961 | 8 | 5|

In August 1961, the Berlin Wall was built. It split St. Michael’s parish into eastern and western parts. After the fall of the Wall in 1989, the community remained divided; its two parts were each merged with neighbouring parishes. Engelbecken, which had been filled with rubble following the Second World War, was excavated.

1930s and 1940s

1930 | 8 | 5|

The National Socialists destroyed synagogues in the Engelbecken area in Prinzenstraße, Dresdener Strasse and Kopenickerstrasse. Following the bombings in 1944-45, St. Michael’s lay in partial ruin, with most of the surrounding area completely devastated.

1926

1926 | 8 | 5|

The Berlin Senate had the Luisenstadt canal filled in because of the increasingly unpleasant smell and danger of epidemics. Engelbecken remained. The landscape architect, Erwin Barth, planned the creation of an “Indian Garden” in the area where the canal had been. It was to feature green spaces and a pond. The idea, modelled on the Taj Mahal, was that the dome of St. Michael would be reflected in the water. A bronze Buddha sculpture was also erected.

First half of the 19th century

1900 | 8 | 5|

Catholic workers and soldiers moved to the Protestant-dominated area of Brandenburg-Prussia [now Berlin]. Many of them came from Poland and Silesia. They were involved in the construction of the Luisenstadt canal, commissioned by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Construction began during the Revolution of 1848. A civic militia supervised the workers – this was the only way to ensure completion of the project.

In 1816, there were already 2076 Catholics serving in the military. By 1858, this number had more than doubled: it was time to build a Catholic garrison church. Protestant garrison churches had already been in existence since the early 18th century.

1851 – 1861

1851 | 8 | 5|

In 1851 the foundation was laid for a Catholic garrison church called St. Michael. The episcopal inauguration was held in 1861. Late-Romantic urban planning, the design movement of the time, called for a body of water in front of the church. This was to be the Luisenstadt canal. St Michael’s was referred to as “by far the most beautiful church in Berlin” by Theodor Fontane.