St. Michael-Kirche Nienburg

The church by architect Peter Hübotter is a highly regarded example of modern church construction in the middle of the 20th century, adopting basic forms and ideas from the tradition of church architecture. It is intended to be a functional building for the worship of an Evangelical-Lutheran congregation. The structural and artistic solutions are subordinate to this purpose. In many ways, the church and the works of art on and in it provide an impetus to take a closer look and reflect on their statements.

An example of this is the thick glass window in the crypt-like baptistery at the north end of the connecting corridor between the church tower and the worship room, which is used for preparation and gathering. The glass painter Hausmann, Hamburg, has depicted Noah's Ark, which is perched on the peaks of Mount Ararat, surrounded by the Flood, on which the dove with the olive branch in its beak settles (Genesis 8:11). It speaks of God's wrath and punishment, but also of the new life he has given, illustrated by the fish darting through the water, and thus takes up the connection between the Flood and baptism. The most magnificent and precious work of art can be found on the light-colored east wall of the choir room: the mandorla, named after its almond-shaped middle section. The central section depicts Christ sitting on the rainbow throne as the ruler of the world (Revelation 4: 1-3), resurrected and ascended into heaven with his eyes wide open, directed at the viewer and his mouth speaking to them. His right hand is raised in blessing with three fingers spread apart (blessing in the name of the triune God). His left hand holds a book in which the text from Matthew 11:28 is open. "Leaves" connected to the mandorla on all four sides by rock crystal spheres form a cross shape. The "leaves" bear stylized images of the "beasts" mentioned in Revelation 4:7, which are interpreted in the church as symbols of the four evangelists.