Once the center of village and city life, diminishing congregation numbers have left church buildings increasingly empty or forced to close. So, how can they be revitalized?
Since 2016, under the patronage of the Evangelical Church in Middle Germany and the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Thueringen, citizens have unified through solidarity-forming projects to reactivate their churches as sites of community. This second volume of the series StadtLand:Kirche presents these ambitious projects, detailing a narrative of progress through failures and successes. Case studies such as the Her(r)bergskirche in Rennsteig and the Bienen-Garten-Kirche in Rodisleben, demonstrate that realistic secular uses can complement the original offerings of the church. A new type of church is emerging as a hybrid place at the center of the village.