explore the various layouts of the
medieval churches preceding the 14th
century version of St George’s which
was destroyed in 1945. That was –
and now is again- a basilica with
three isles The layout of previous
churches is now marked in the paving
stones of the floor. There had been a
tower to the previous churches, but
during the building of the last version
the money must have run out- it was
said that it coincided with the decline
of the Hansa. Now there is only a
ridge turret, but the ornamental gable
of the southern transept has been
restored with its coloured tiles, which
is the special feature of this building.
Inside some of the original wall
paintings were preserved, like a
Jesse Tree and floral paintings. The
church is now open to visitors,
although there are still some builders
at work. The High Altar with many
carved
figures
survived
the
destruction to some extend; it had
been placed into a side chapel of St
Nicolai, since that church had
survived. I remember that nationwide
calls went out to sponsor the
restoration of individual figures. It will
soon return to its place in
St George’s, once the restoration is
complete.
never escaped to his land of dreams
because he realised that it would
have serious consequences for his
employer if he returned without him.
But the vicar of St George, who from
his study had looked out on to the
great wall of bricks of the transept,
expecting ‘the writing on the wall’, he
shot the Nazi who came to arrest him
for the ‘theft’ of the statue, and was
shot himself. The novel ends with him
seeing that ‘fiery writing’ on the great
brick wall, which again towers above
the house next door. It made you
think of the brick buildings of Babylon.
The name of the vicar was ‘Helander’,
which is a version of the German
word ‘Heiland’ for the Saviour.
BW
It is truly a miracle, that 70 years after
the destruction this great church has
been recreated and can now be used
for religious services as well as
concerts and other events.
As for the statue from St George’s
which featured in the novel by
Andersch, it is by Ernst Barlach and
can be seen in the Barlach museum
in Hamburg. The boy in the novel
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