St Augustine's of Canterbury Germany

St Augustine's of Canterbury Germany

St. Augustine's of Canterbury in Wiesbaden, Germany is one of the few English churches in Germany that was built in the mid 19th century.

A Brief history:
As a lot of English people regularly visited the famous spa at Wiesbaden, there was a growing need for a church in Wiesbaden, Germany. Therefore, in 1844 an appeal was made to the Duke Adolf of Nassau for land where a church could be built.
When the land was finally given, the Kurthaus Trust along with the former parishioners and residents gathered fund for the construction of the church and began building it in 1863 according to the design of Oberbaurat Götz. The church was fast completed and on on 1 November 1864 the first service was held in the St. Augustine's of Canterbury in Wiesbaden, Germany by James Brine. On 22 July 1865, the church was Consecrated by, Marcus Gervais Beresford, the Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland who supervised all the foreign parishes away from London.

The Structure and Style:
St. Augustine's of Canterbury, Germany, built in the popular Gothic style has high bell towers and side aisle designed by architect Friedrich Lang. The church also has extensive art works in the interior that were done in 1914, just before the World War I began. After the war broke, British residents abandoned Wiesbaden in large numbers, but St. Augustine's of Canterbury continued to be used by the Lutheran Trinity congregation and the American residents.

Damage and Restoration:
In February 1945, St. Augustine's of Canterbury in Wiesbaden, Germany got severely affected by the bombing raids, but the large crucifix remained intact. Again on 23 January 1966, the church caught fire and was almost completely burnt. Surprising enough, the crucifix survived again without being damaged at all.
On 22 January 1967, under the Bishop of Fulham the church was re-constructed and restored, and finally in 1995, the whole of the church’s interior was repainted.

Authority and administration:
On October 1955 the St. Augustine's of Canterbury was handed over to the Church of England by the City of Wiesbaden. Since then, the church has been under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe.
Though the deed to the church still lies with the Bishop of London, the parish is now a member of the American Episcopal Church.

Address:
Frankfurter Street 3,
65189 Wiesbaden,
Germany.

Telephone:
0611-30-6674

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