The Marktkirche officially Marktkirche S. Georgii et Jacobi, dedicated to St. George and St. James, is the main Lutheran

Evangelical Church in Germany

The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...

 church in Hanover

Hanover

Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...

. It was built in the 14th century and, together with the nearby Old Town Hall, is considered the southernmost example of the "North German brick gothic" (Norddeutsche Backsteingotik) architectural style. The roof and the vaults of the naves were destroyed in an air raid in 1943 and restored in 1952.

The church is a Hallenkirche (hall church

Hall church

A hall church is a church with nave and side aisles of approximately equal height, often united under a single immense roof. The term was first coined in the mid-19th century by the pioneering German art historian Wilhelm Lübke....

). Above the nave and two aisles rises a monumental saddleback roof. The high western tower was a symbol for the power and the wealth of the citizens of the town. It is still one of the highest towers in Lower-Saxony and a landmark of the city.

Altar

The main altar was made around 1480. It depicts the Passion

Passion (Christianity)

The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...

, following models of Martin Schongauer

Martin Schongauer

Martin Schongauer was a German engraver and painter. He was the most important German printmaker before Albrecht Dürer....

. It is carved in Lindenholz

Tilia

Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...

 and shows 21 scenes. The back shows scenes from the life of the two patron saints. The altar was moved to the Aegidienkirche in 1663, to make room for a Baroque altar. In 1856 it was taken to the museum Welfenmuseum. Thus it was not destroyed during World War II and returned to the Marktkirche in 1952.

Organ

An organ was installed in the Turmraum (Tower Room) of the Marktkirche in 1893, which included parts of an instrument of the 17th century. This organ was destroyed in Wolrd War II.

Todays organ is at the back wall of the southern aisle. The first instrment in that location was built in 1953 and 1954 by the organ builders Emil Hammer Orgelbau (de) and Rudolf von Beckerath

Rudolf von Beckerath

Rudolf von Beckerath was a German master organ builder. He was born in Munich, but grew up in Hamburg, where his parents moved the year he was born. He initially pursued an interest in mechanical engineering...

. It had 61 stops, four manuals and pedal. The Prospekt (casing) was designed by Dieter Oesterlen

Dieter Oesterlen

Dieter Oesterlen was German architect. He re-built the Leineschloss, the Marktkirche, and the opera house all in Hanover after the destruction of World War II....

 and is a protected monument.

From 2007 to 2009, the instrument was rebuilt by Goll Orgelbau (Lucerne

Lucerne

Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...

). The casing and about 50 % of the pipes were kept. The new organ has 64 stops, 39 of them mostly using the older material.

Bells

The Marktkirche has 11 bells. The Christus- und Friedensglocke (Bell of Christ and Peace) is the biggest of Lower-Saxony and is only used on special occasions.

External links

• Kurze Kirchengeschichte der Altstadt Short history of the churches in the Old Town, kirche-hannover.de
• Marktkirche MyTravelGuide