Gustav Adolf Church

The Gustav-Adolf-Kirche is a parish church located in the municipality of Leoben, in the district of Leoben, Styria. It belongs to the Evangelische Superintendentur AB Steiermark of the Evangelical Church AB in Austria, and follows the Evangelical Lutheran denomination.The church, which is designated as a protected monument, is situated on Ignaz-Buchmüller-Platz, in close proximity to the northern edge of the Josefee district.

By the middle of the 16th century, the Reformation had gained a strong presence in Leoben. However, as early as 1563, the Lutheran preacher Franz Schonkle was forced into exile.In 1581, the majority of Leoben’s population embraced Lutheran beliefs. However, the arrival of the Jesuits and the subsequent construction of the church of St. Francis Xaverius in 1613 effectively halted the reformist movement.The transfer of the mining school to Leoben in 1849, along with the arrival of a partially Protestant labor force, led to a significant rise in the number of Protestants in the community.In 1859, a Protestant cemetery was established, and in 1861, the first evangelical service took place at Göss Abbey after the Protestant patent was issued. However, due to certain circumstances, the initial church construction project could not be completed at that time.

In 1881, Wald am Schoberpass established a preaching station in Leoben. This preaching station was later elevated to a subsidiary parish in 1889 and eventually became an autonomous parish on May 26, 1902. This transition was part of the Los von Rom movement.Gottlieb Dietrich Höhn served as the first pastor, but he resigned in 1905 due to challenges within the community.The current church structure was completed in 1908 after a design competition, which was made possible by financial assistance from the Gustav Adolf Association. This happened during the pastorate of Paul Spanuth, who served from 1905 until 1945. The dedication of the church took place on December 12, 1909.

The church in Leoben was designed by Viennese architect Clemens Kattner in a cross-shaped layout with galleries, incorporating elements of historicism in a free form style.One of the most notable features of the urban planning is the impressive corner tower. It is adorned with a helmet pyramid and stands out due to the church’s diagonal positioning. As a result, it can be seen from Franz-Josef-Straße.The interior features a well-arranged design, with the pulpit, altar, and organ loft stacked on top of each other. The space is covered by a spacious groined ceiling, reflecting the style of the Wiesbaden program.

The ensemble includes the rectory, which was completed in 1908.

The Geyling glass painting company created the figurative colored glazing during the construction of the church. These designs were made by painter Paul Scholz and they depict Christ blessing the children in the circular window above the organ. Additionally, there is a three-part window on the right gallery that shows Jesus blessing the children, along with a mother holding a child and a girl scattering flowers.In 1959 and 1960, Erwin Schneider, a talented glass painter, completed the remaining glass windows. These windows depicted significant biblical scenes, including the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Descent from the Cross, and the disciples of Emmaus on the left gallery. Additionally, above the entrance, Schneider painted a captivating portrayal of Paul followed by the Apostles.

Inside the church, there is a bust of Gustav Adolf II created by the artist Wilhelm Gösser.