Erlöserkirche

Erlöserkirche stands in Heidelberg as a simple hall church with walls from its former monastery. Its origins reach back to 1720, when Dominican nuns founded a monastery here.

Built between 1723 and 1724, the church was dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena. After secularization dissolved the monastery in 1802, Lutherans used the building as a hospital and charitable home. The English-speaking community later worshipped here, until the First World War closed the English Chapel in 1914. A neighbouring school then turned the interior into an assembly hall, where students and knitting needles replaced organ music. Since 1936, the Old Catholic community has used the church as its parish church.

Colourful stained-glass windows from 1962 show the Tree of Life, Jordan’s baptismal waters and the Heavenly Jerusalem. Harry MacLean also created the bronze portal, exterior cross, tabernacle and baptismal font. The church remains a shared Christian space, with an English-speaking congregation and monthly Greek Orthodox celebrations. Look closely at the windows: the fiery pillar from the Exodus appears beside scenes of grace and resurrection.