Kaiser Wilhelm Church

Several years after World War 2, it was decided to build a new church on the site, but the Berliners, who called it 'the Hole in the Tooth' , [and still do], wanted to keep the old one. So the architect, Egon Eiermann, designed a very special scheme whereby everybody would be happy.

He incorporated the old ruined tower into a unique eight sided church and a separate hexagonal tower. The church itself is glazed with blue glass blocks which are not apparent from the outside, but from the inside they are extremely beautiful as the sunlight streams through. The marker flares that the bombers dropped and which the Berliners called 'Christmas Trees', are depicted in coloured glass as are the terrible fires that followed them.

But it is not a mournful place at all and many people who are not interested in churches have been known to stay for a long time simply enjoying the peace of it. Cavernous inside, it is very quiet considering that it is in the heart of Berlin, but it is indeed a working church although it might not look like one.

The huge door is made of aluminium and from the moment you go inside, you cannot fail to be impressed. It is a major landmark of Berlin now and it should not be forgotten that it is a war memorial too. Surrounded by modern concrete, the fire blackened old tower stands like an accusing finger to whoever chooses to see it pointing at them, whilst to others it stands in silent dignity like a proud but humiliated woman. The message to all nations is simple - 'look what you've done to me'.