Tower hall of Lüneburg's St. Nicolai Church opens after renovation!

Tower hall of Lüneburg's St. Nicolai Church opens after renovation!

After being closed for over two years, the St. Nicolai Church in Lüneburg is finally opening its doors to visitors again. From Monday, July 28th, those interested can view the newly designed tower hall, which is now equipped with a protective net to ensure safety from falling stones. This was announced by the Hanover Regional Church. This is an important step towards making the historic building accessible to the public, while at the same time the necessary renovation work is being carried out.

The church was completely closed in February 2023 due to cracks in the vault. The first damage occurred in the summer of 2022 and led to extensive investigations that are still ongoing today. The results of these analyzes are to be presented next year. The planned renovation work must take special monument protection requirements into account, which is expected to cost several million euros. The parish is therefore asking for donations in order to be able to finance the extensive renovation work.

A look inside

From the tower hall, visitors have the opportunity to take a unique look at the central nave of the church, which impresses with its impressive 29 meter high star vault. The tower hall is open from Monday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is looked after by volunteer church guards. City and tower tours are also possible again, making the visit a real experience.

However, full access to the interior of the church will only be possible once the protective nets have been installed - this is expected to take until 2026. But there is reason for hope and solidarity, which is why the symbolic aspect of a rainbow is also being discussed in the community. This not only stands for colors and beauty, but is also seen as a second chance and a sign of the covenant between God and man. The rainbow is intended to connect people, encourage dialogue about peace and justice and offer the opportunity for harmony.

The future of St. Nicolai Church

The coming months will be dominated by preparations for the renovation. In the summer of 2024, a laser scanner will be used to precisely measure the interior of the church and thus take a fundamental step towards the sustainable preservation of the historic building. In January 2025, a camera drone will also map the damage in detail to obtain an accurate picture of the work required.

St. Nicolai Church has big plans, and the opening of the tower hall is just the first step into a hopeful future. Even though physical connection to church is currently limited, church values ​​and a sense of community remain strong. May the rainbow bring people together as a symbol of hope and protection in difficult times. Further information can be found on the community website wir-e.de and in the reports from the Landeskirche Hannover.