Historic German church to close after decades of declining worshippers
The Evangelical Parish of Fischbach-Sulzbachtal has announced plans to deconsecrate the Heilig-Geist Church in Dudweiler South due to dwindling congregation numbers and financial strain. The consistory has instead chosen to invest in the restoration of the Dudweiler Christuskirche and Herrensohr Kreuzkirche. The deconsecration of the Heilig-Geist Church is set for a service on Pentecost 2026, pending ecclesiastical approval. Following this, the community plans to demolish and sell the entire ensemble, including the church, bell tower, parsonage, and Dietrich-Bonhoeffer House. The parish is working with a city planner to find suitable, socially compatible reuse options for the properties. Pastor Dr. Tobias Kaspari will relocate from the parsonage in Dudweiler to the one in Fischbach in the summer. Despite the loss of the Heilig-Geist Church, the district will retain two places of worship and community centers: the Christuskirche in Dudweiler and the Kreuzkirche in Herrensohr. Other places of worship in the parish include those in Fischbach, Sulzbach, and Friedrichsthal. The decision to deconsecrate and sell the Heilig-Geist Church ensemble comes after careful consideration of the building's poor condition and uneconomical repair costs. The parish is committed to finding a suitable reuse for the properties and ensuring the continued spiritual and community needs of the district are met through its remaining churches.
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