Versöhnungskirche

The Versöhnungskirche stands in the Mittelrain district of Heidenheim an der Brenz in Germany. It is part of an ecumenical community centre designed by architect Alfred Bruegel and opened in 1988. Two congregations share the building: the Protestant Versöhnungsgemeinde and the Catholic Dreifaltigkeitsgemeinde.

Inside, the first thing you notice is the altar wall by Franklin Pühn. It shows a large Christ with outstretched arms, surrounded by apostles. The artwork breaks into bands that carry scenes from the Old and New Testaments alongside modern human struggles. The colourful stained glass windows come from Raphael Seitz, added a few years after the opening. A large hall hosts events and gatherings for up to two hundred people. It divides into smaller rooms, one of them a meditation space lit by a vibrant window of coloured glass.

For the entire district, the centre doubles as a meeting point. Worship follows a regular rhythm, and family services add creative activities and communal meals. That shared spirit reaches the sanctuary itself: a Catholic tabernacle stands in a church the Protestant congregation owns.