St. Nicholas' Church, Hamburg
| Church of St. Nicholas | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Record height | |
| Tallest in the world from 1874 to 1876 | |
| Preceded by | Strasbourg Cathedral |
| Surpassed by | Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen |
| General information | |
| Status | Ruined. Only tower, spire and crypt survive |
| Location | Hamburg, Germany |
| Coordinates | 53°32′51″N 9°59′26″E / 53.54750°N 9.99056°ECoordinates: 53°32′51″N 9°59′26″E / 53.54750°N 9.99056°E |
| Construction started | 1189 |
| Completed | 1195 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 147 m (482 ft) |
| References | |
The Gothic Revival Church of St. Nicholas (German: St.-Nikolai-Kirche) was formerly one of the five Lutheran Hauptkirchen (main churches) in the city of Hamburg. The church lies now in ruins, with only its tower remaining, serving as a memorial and an important architectural landmark. When Hamburg residents mention the Nikolaikirche, it is generally to this church that they are referring, and not the new Hauptkirche dedicated to Saint Nicholas, which is located in the Harvestehude district.
The church was the tallest building in the world from 1874 to 1876 and is still the second-tallest structure in Hamburg.
The current condition of the Church of St. Nicholas is the result of the bombing of Hamburg in World War II, resultant demolition in 1951 and restoration work in the 1990s and 2012. The Rettet die Nikolaikirche e.V. (Rescue the Church of St. Nicholas) Foundation is responsible for the restoration of the church. The foundation is supported in its work by the city of Hamburg, the congregation of the Church of St. Nicholas and various corporate sponsors and private contributors. The organization is charged with maintaining the building's existing structure, restoration, arranging events and displays in the church, and operating an information center housed in the church's crypt.
With the founding of the Nikolai settlement and a harbor on the Alster in the 12th century, a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, patron saint of sailors, was erected. This wood building was the second church in Hamburg, after St. Mary's Cathedral.
In 1335, some years before the onslaught of the Black Death, construction on a new brick building began. The structure was to be a three-naved hall church in the typical North German Brick Gothic style. This building stood until the middle of the 19th century, undergoing changes, expansions, and withstanding several partial destructions. The tower, which was erected in 1517, burned down in 1589. The tower built to replace it collapsed in 1644. The last tower of the old Church of St. Nicholas was designed by Peter Marquardt. The Marquardt tower had a height of 122 metres and with its characteristic dome was a landmark of the city and jewel of its skyline.
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