Grabeskirche – The graves-church: a new model for “neighborhood cemeteries”?

Chiara Tiloca; Andrea Zangari

doi:10.6092/issn.2036-1602/6147

Authors

Chiara Tiloca University of Bologna
Chiara Tiloca is under graduated at the University of Bologna in the Engineering of building and urban System at the Faculty of Ravenna, presenting a thesis about a re-use method for abandoned or under-used churches.
Andrea Zangari University of Bologna
Andrea Zangari is a student at the Faculty of Bologna in Building Engineering and a lover of the culture.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2036-1602/6147

Keywords:

Grabeskirche, Urn, Cemetery, Germany, Neighbourhood

Abstract

With most of Europe experiencing a reduction in the priesthood and increased secularization, more and more Churches are left underused and/or closed. This paper explores how under utilizied churches in the northern Rheine-Westphalia region of Germany have converted into Grabeskirche, which has offered the spaces a new life and an economic return to its parishes. Looking closely at the conversion of five Churches into Grabeskirche; St. Joseph in Aachen, St. Bartholomaus outside of Köln, Namen-Jesu-Kirche in Bonn, St. Elizabeth in the outskirts of Mönchegadblach and St. Josef close to Monchengladbach, the case studies will reveal how the separation of cemeterial rites, functions and rituals can once again join the liturgical space of a Church. The Grabeskirke represents a new economic and cultural model that allows a church to be self-sustaining and enable its retention in an era of post-secularization.

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