With the help of federal and state funds, today's Martin Luther Church was built next to the parish hall. Construction began in 1954 and the church was consecrated on May 21, 1956, the second day of Pentecost. This day is significant for this church, as both the construction of the church and all the community buildings (Martin Luther House, parish hall and kindergarten) were started on the second Pentecost.
The building was designed by architect Prof. Dr.-Ing. Berndt as a lightweight reinforced concrete structure, taking into account the quicksand in the subsoil. The church has the shape of a trapezoid, with the western broad side facing Berliner Strasse and the narrow side with the chancel to the east.
The main axis inside the church is the central "Christ axis", oriented from east to west, towards which the congregation's seats are also aligned. The crucifix on the altar symbolizes the past with the crucifixion of Jesus, while the stained glass window behind it refers to the future return of the Lord. The pulpit, from which the word of Christ is proclaimed in the present, stands in front of the past and the future. The stained glass window was created by the painter and graphic artist Claus Wallner (1926-1979), parts of the altar, pulpit, baptismal font and lectern by his wife, the sculptor Ursula Querner (1921-1969).
The bell tower carries four bells, three bells from the Bochumer Verein were consecrated in 1955 during the construction of the church, and a fourth bell was later added. The fifth bell in the tower was not used.
The church's baptismal font is worth mentioning. This was hammered out of the cartouche of a grenade by a skilled baker. The bowl was used for baptisms in the parish's first meeting room, the "Krähenkrug" restaurant. The baptismal bowl is still used today and stands as a symbol that even tools of war can be put to good use.
In October 1961, a daughter parish was founded, the St. Matthäus parish. This was able to move into its own church in 1968. Due to excessive renovation costs, St. Matthew's Church had to be closed again in 2007 and is now looked after by the Apostle Parish (St. Paul's and St. Mark's churches).
Text: Markus Schulze, Ortsheimatpfleger for Hohenrode