A Roman Catholic hall church in Schöneberg, built to serve a rapidly expanding Berlin parish that grew from 800 to 10,000 faithful in three decades.
At a glance
St. Matthias stands on Winterfeldtplatz, a testament to Berlin’s 19th-century Catholic growth. The church was designed by Engelbert Seibertz and consecrated in 1895, replacing an earlier structure that could no longer accommodate its congregation.
History
The parish’s first church was erected in 1867–1868, funded by a 20,000 thaler donation from Prussian civil servant Matthias Aulike, for whom the church is named. This made it the third oldest Roman Catholic parish in Berlin, after St. Hedwig and St. Sebastian.
Rapid growth soon overwhelmed the original building. By 1890, the parish had swelled to 10,000 members—a tenfold increase in two decades. A design competition was held to create a new, larger structure. Engelbert Seibertz won the competition. The foundation stone was laid on 23 October 1893, and Cardinal Georg von Kopp, bishop of Breslau, consecrated the building on 24 October 1895.
Aulike’s original stipulation that the parish be served by a priest from the diocese of Münster remains honored today.
What you see
St. Matthias is a hall church design, a typology that allowed for a unified interior space without structural columns obstructing the congregation’s view. Seibertz’s design proved successful and enduring—the building still stands today on Winterfeldtplatz.
Cultural significance
St. Matthias embodies the expansion of Catholic Berlin in the late 19th century. The church reflects both the growing immigrant and Catholic population of the city and the architectural ambitions of the Bismarck era, when Berlin was transforming into a modern imperial capital.
Key facts
- Country: Germany
- City: Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Berlin
- Completed: 1895
- Architect: Engelbert Seibertz
- Coordinates: 52.49535, 13.35458
Practical information & getting there
St. Matthias is located on Winterfeldtplatz in the Schöneberg district of Berlin. The area is well served by public transport and lies near the Potsdam Gate. For current visiting hours and service times, consult the parish website or local Berlin tourism resources.
Sources & resources
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