Heilandskirche

The Heilandskirche (Graz Evangelical Church of the Redeemer) is one of the five evangelical churches located in Graz, the capital of Styria.The Graz-Heilandskirche is the parish church of the evangelical parish AuHB.The church was constructed in the early historicist style.The location of the place is on Kaiser-Josef-Platz in the 2nd district of Graz, specifically in St. Leonhard. The main church of the Evangelische Superintendentur AB Steiermark is located here.

In 1824, the first evangelical prayer house was constructed on the former wooden plaza outside the fortified old town of Graz, as documented in Emperor Joseph II’s patent of tolerance.Based on the relevant regulations, there was a shortage of believers in the past, with only around 270 individuals, which was insufficient to establish their own congregation.The Graz community was officially recognized as a branch of the Wald am Schoberpass parish and rented the Augustinian Church, which is now known as Stiegenkirche.The new prayer house, which was connected to a school and vicarage, was designed to resemble an ordinary residential building from the outside, in accordance with the Tolerance Patent. To achieve this, it was designed in the style of a Biedermeier residential building.The building consisted of various rooms, such as a prayer room, apartments for the pastor, the sacristan, and the teacher. Additionally, there was a classroom that eventually transformed into the Evangelical Girls’ School, now known as the Martin Luther House.

It was only after the revolution of 1848 that it became possible to construct a building that could be identified as a Protestant church.The conversion was approved in 1853, following plans by Franz Toengruber.The Heilandskirche in Graz is the sole church building in the romantic historicism style.

Today’s interior design is essentially a reflection of the space that was once used as a prayer house.The orientation of the altar was altered, shifting it from the north-east side to the south-west side.The church tower, the church windows that are visible from the outside, and the portal on Kaiser-Josef-Platz were all added.The church also houses the classical high altar, which features a picture painted by Josef Wonsidler in 1829. Additionally, the pulpit has been preserved.

In 1992, as part of a thorough renovation project designed by architect Werner Hollomey, the church interior underwent significant changes. These included the installation of vibrant stained glass windows, a portable altar, a new ambo, and a baptismal font.The Heilandskirche parish is the largest Protestant parish in Austria, with approximately 6,400 members.