The Paulinerkirche was one of Leipzig’s most important monuments. A place where religion and the city’s history were intertwined in an unusual way. Founded in 1231 as a Dominican monastery church, it became the church of the University of Leipzig after 1409. It survived both wars almost unscathed, only to be demolished in 1968 by a decision of the GDR communist authorities. After German reunification, it was decided to restore the memory of this church by building the modern Paulinum on its site, which combines the functions of auditorium and university church.
History of the Paulinerkirche – Dominican monastery
In 1229, the Dominicans arrived in Leipzig and already in 1231 began the construction of their temple, the St. Paul’s Church (Paulinerkirche). It was built in the typical style of the period: with an elongated body, choir and side aisles. In 1240, the church was consecrated by Archbishop Wilbrand of Magdeburg. The Paulinerkirche was the centre of a large monastic complex within the city walls.
University church
Since the foundation of the University of Leipzig in 1409, the Paulinerkirche has been an integral part of it. From as early as 1419, preachers were appointed by the university and university services were held in the church. After the Reformation, the monastery was dissolved and Moritz von Sachsen donated the buildings to the university on 22 April 1544. on 12 August 1545, Martin Luther consecrated the Paulinerkirche as the Protestant university church. Over the centuries, the church was the burial place of many professors and their families. Over time, the Paulinerkirche also served as the university auditorium. The musical life of the church also flourished, with Johann Sebastian Bach himself officiating at formal services between 1723 and 1725. It was in the Paulinerkirche that Bach performed, for example, the Pentecost cantata ‘Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten’ (BWV 59) and the mournful ‘Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl’ (BWV 198).
The 19th century and architectural changes to the Paulinerkirche
At the time of the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig in 1813, the church was used as a lazaret and camp for prisoners of war. In the 19th century, most of the former monastery was demolished and new university buildings, including the Augusteum, were erected in their place. Due to the transformation of its surroundings, the Paulinerkirche received a classicist façade by Albert Geutebrück in 1836, which was rebuilt again in 1897 according to a neo-Gothic design by Arwed Roßbach.
Destruction in 1968
After the Second World War, in which the Paulinerkirche did not suffer serious damage, difficult times came for it. In 1945, Augustusplatz was renamed Karl-Marx-Platz and the University of Leipzig was renamed Karl-Marx-Universität. The city administration’s plans for the redevelopment of the university complex included the demolition of the historic buildings and the construction of a new political and cultural centre to present Leipzig as a socialist city. Despite objections from theologians, students and some residents alike, the last mass was celebrated in the church on 23 May 1968 and the church was blown up a week later. Some of the furnishings were saved from demolition: epitaphs, statues, a crucifix and the famous late Gothic altarpiece, which is now in St Thomas’ Church in Leipzig. Along with the church, other university buildings were also demolished and a new building was erected in their place.
New life – Paulinum
After the reunification of Germany, the idea of restoring the historic church emerged. Demolition of the outdated university building and the construction of the Paulinum (full name: Aula und Universitätskirche St. Pauli) began in 2007. The new building stood almost exactly on the site of the former Paulinerkirche. Its design was carried out by Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects (EEA) of Rotterdam. The architecture of the Paulinum consciously refers to the history of the site. The steep roof is reminiscent of the neo-Gothic gable of the former church, and the offset windows point in the direction of the building’s collapse in 1968. The building also partly mimics the mass of the demolished university and the church tower. The interior of the Paulinum today serves both a sacred and an academic function. It is the venue for services, concerts and university ceremonies.
Source: uni-leipzig.de
Read also: Architecture | Church architecture | Monuments | Germany | History | Interesting facts
University and church in 1917 and today. Photo by Wolfgang Sauber (Xenophon)/Wikimedia Commons and Google Maps
The church in 1900 and 2024. Photo by Hermann Walter (1838-1909), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons and Google Maps
