Seliger Niels Stensen, Grevesmühlen

The Niels Stensen Church is the Catholic parish church of Grevesmühlen, the former county seat of the Nordwestmecklenburg district. It is one of the new church buildings approved and begun during the GDR period, and is the first church in the world to bear the name of the natural scientist and bishop Niels Stensen, who was beatified in 1988.

The foundation stone of the church was laid by Auxiliary Bishop Norbert Werbs on May 28, 1989, and it was consecrated by Bishop Theodor Hubrich on April 27, 1991.

This was preceded by the growth in the number of Catholics in the region due to the influx of displaced persons after World War II, the elevation of the Catholic community of Grevesmühlen to a parish in 1972, and a long period of planning and applications.

The church was designed by Rolf Meyer. With the means possible for a diaspora church, he created a spiritual and inviting space. The low-pitched roof and the struts that continue it down to the earth and anchor it there symbolize the tent of God on earth. High windows in the roof area and in the altar wall give the room brightness.

Michael Vogler created the image of Our Lady with the Child Jesus turning to other children at the preparation table and the image of the Good Shepherd at the ambo as well as the altar triptych. This shows the Pentecost event on the center panel, scenes and aspects of the life of Blessed Niels Stensen on the left, and St. Deacon Laurentius, the original parish patron of the Grevesmuehlen Catholic community, on the right. Other furnishings, such as the stretcher cross, the baptismal font, and the 14 Stations of the Cross were made by the artisan Rudolf Fleischer.