Modernists pushing for culture to replace liturgy in Churches. ""Playing" with the special space".
Culture instead of liturgy – A future model for rural Churches?
Many churches in rural areas will no longer be needed for religious services in the future. Does this mean the demise of churches is imminent? A research project is investigating whether and how churches can become cultural venues instead.
The exact number of churches in Germany is unknown. However, estimates suggest there are around 45,000 places of worship in the Federal Republic. Many of them have shaped their surroundings for centuries – especially in rural areas. There, the church towers, usually located in the center of small towns and villages, have been important landmarks, and the associated places of worship have been places of encounter and community for generations. However, the population decline caused by migration and aging, particularly in structurally weak rural areas, coupled with the persistently high number of people leaving the two major churches, is increasingly jeopardizing the future of many church buildings.
"Forecasts indicate that around 30 percent of churches in Germany will no longer be needed for religious services in the next 30 years. For all these churches, the question arises: what will happen to them? Will they be sold or demolished – or could they perhaps be used for other purposes?" says Maria Rammelmeier. The social and regional scientist, who holds a doctorate, has been working on the "Culture Under the Church Tower" research project at the Protestant Augustana University of Applied Sciences in Neuendettelsau and the University of Vechta since 2023. Its aim is to explore "the significance and function of church spaces and networks for cultural regional development in rural areas." Put simply, the project seeks to determine what role church spaces can play in cultural activities in rural areas, what opportunities they offer, and where the limitations become apparent.
... Rural areas are also under pressure.
Because it's not just rural churches that are facing challenges – rural areas themselves are under pressure. With migration and an aging population, many meeting places are disappearing: inns, banks, and post offices are closing, and cultural and community activities are becoming less common. Against this backdrop, wouldn't it make sense to transform places of worship, which are used less and less for liturgical purposes but should be preserved as landmark buildings, into cultural and community centers for the general public?
"Especially where there are no theaters or cultural centers, churches are among the few public spaces that are even suitable for cultural events." — Quote: Sonja Keller
"That churches are used as venues for cultural events is nothing new in urban contexts. Such expanded uses of places of worship have existed for many decades," says Professor Sonja Keller, Chair of Practical Theology at Augustana University, who is involved in the research project. However, rural areas have received little attention in this regard. "Church buildings are increasingly assuming an important cultural function, even in rural areas. Especially where there are no theaters or cultural centers, churches are among the few public spaces that are even suitable for cultural events." The "Culture Under the Church Tower" team therefore explored how cultural uses of church buildings function in rural areas and what future prospects this offers for the church and society in these regions.
Rammelmeier emphasizes that culture often seems like an obvious option for the future use of church buildings to church leaders. However, she cautions against false expectations. While churches are often described as a "third place" alongside home and work—a neutral meeting place—they are actually highly symbolic, imbued with memories of baptisms, weddings, and funerals. These meanings don't disappear simply because cultural events such as exhibitions, concerts, or readings now take place in a church space instead of religious services. During the project, she heard from people who are not affiliated with the church and who hadn't attended cultural events in churches simply because they didn't want to enter a house of worship.
Rammelmeier 14 Regions Across Germany
The researchers employed a broad methodology. A total of seven regions in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Thuringia were examined, explains doctoral candidate Antonia Lehmann. Church leaders were contacted, cultural initiatives were researched, and interviews were conducted with organizers, pastors, artists, and local stakeholders. Network maps were also created to illustrate who collaborates with whom and how strongly church-based cultural projects are integrated into local and regional structures. From a practical-theological perspective, the team also analyzed the church spaces themselves: Which liturgical elements remain, what is changed, and which artifacts shape their use?
Culture can revitalize churches in rural areas—but it won't save them across the board, the researchers conclude.
Culture can revitalize churches in rural areas—but it won't save them entirely, the researchers conclude. Even though the research project is not yet complete, the researchers have already identified a key finding: In many of the regions studied, church spaces now function as important places for community gatherings beyond religious services. "Where other meeting places are lacking, the cultural use of places of worship opens up new opportunities for encounters," says Lehmann. It is also striking that many cultural initiatives arise from the commitment of volunteers. People want to preserve "their" church but realize that purely liturgical use is no longer sufficient.
According to Lehmann, the Kreuzkirche (Church of the Cross) in Zeulenroda, Thuringia, serves as a prime example. There, residents founded the association "VIVA Kulturforum Kreuzkirche Zeulenroda e.V." in 2020 to breathe new life into the centrally located historic building. Since then, cultural events have been held regularly in the church, and according to the association, the church can also be used for "celebrations of all kinds." According to Lehmann, the local parish remains the owner of the building and supports the association, for example, with grant applications, while the cultural program is largely run by volunteers. "Such models show that cultural use can revitalize buildings and foster a sense of identity—but at the same time, it depends heavily on individual volunteers," says the doctoral candidate.
"Playing" with the special space
Another finding of the researchers: Church spaces differ significantly from village community centers or other traditional event venues. "Many participants emphasized the special atmosphere in churches during the interviews," explains Antonia Lehmann. Churches are historically evolved spaces with their own atmosphere of dignity. Smaller village churches, in particular, can also create a "homely" feeling that a large multi-purpose hall cannot offer. Sonja Keller also points to this quality. Although churches often need to be prepared for cultural purposes, it is precisely the "playing" with the special space that exerts a strong attraction. Being able to work with the history of a place enhances cultural offerings and fosters a sense of identity.
“The church is hierarchically organized; culture thrives on freedom and experimentation.”— Quote: Maria Rammelmeier
Rammelmeier emphasizes that the cultural offerings themselves also play a role. “Many churches rely on classic formats such as organ or chamber music concerts.” A highbrow cultural focus is legitimate, but it doesn't automatically reach the local village population. More accessible formats, local participation, and diverse networks, on the other hand, lower the barrier to entry. When people without a church background help organize events, the program often changes—towards more everyday forms of culture and encounter, which is generally a benefit for the village community.
According to Lehmann, with the increasing use of cultural spaces, the perspective on the role of the church in the village is also shifting. The church needs to be even more aware that it is a local civil society actor that can provide non-partisan spaces for debate, for example. Keller cites the “Village Church Mon Amour” project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany as an example. Besides the cultural revitalization of small churches, the project also specifically aims to promote civil society in rural regions, including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Culture won't save churches across the board
At the same time, the researchers are tempering expectations. Culture will not save churches across the board. Funding and building maintenance remain challenges. Projects often depend on individual people, and when they leave, gaps quickly emerge. According to Rammelmeier, another challenge lies in the differing structures of the church and the cultural sector: “The church is organised hierarchically, whilst culture thrives on freedom and experimentation.” It is therefore crucial that both sides engage in dialogue at an early stage. Change takes time, because people associate certain ideas with church buildings.
Rammelmeier soberly summarises what should ultimately remain from the “Culture under the Church Tower” research project: an awareness that the use of church buildings will change – and that parishes must actively decide how they wish to deal with this. Retain, repurpose, share or hand over: these questions will arise in many places. Whether churches will function more as cultural meeting places in the future, particularly in rural areas, depends less on a one-size-fits-all solution than on local networks, commitment and a willingness to rethink the space beneath the church spire.
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