The Church Construction Workshop of the Lübeck-Lauenburg Church District – Guardian of Hanseatic Architecture

The Church Construction Workshop of the Lübeck-Lauenburg Church District, unique in all of Northern Germany, has stood as a symbol of dedication and craftsmanship since its founding in 1951. This workshop has not only accomplished significant masonry, carpentry, and other craftwork on the churches of St. Marien, St. Petri, St. Jakobi, and Dom zu Lübeck but also at numerous other locations in both districts.
 

Exceptional Craftsmanship 

A distinctive feature of their skill is the restoration of war-damaged vaults in medieval construction style, as seen in many vaults of St. Marien and St. Petri, as well as all 17 vaults of the Gothic choir of the Dom zu Lübeck. Additionally, the workshop plays a central role in the maintenance of large churches and has proven itself in conservation work even in smaller parishes.
 

Team Composition and Passion for Craftsmanship 

The workshop team currently consists of eight masons and one carpenter, who despite their differences, share a common passion for their craft. They value working with historical materials, preserving old craft traditions, and maintaining cultural heritage. Since 2010, the workshop has also served as a recognized placement site for the Voluntary Social Year in Monument Preservation, providing young people with the opportunity to learn about monument preservation practically and theoretically.

The Workshop Master and His Duties

The workshop master, a historical job title, coordinates the trades in church craftsmanship and promotes the exchange of knowledge and experiences. Connected with other workshop masters in Germany, he meets annually with experts to discuss the preservation of major European churches. The lodge master is also well-networked locally in Lübeck and regularly exchanges ideas with Lübeck tour guides
 

Current Projects and Future Challenges

One of the workshop’s recent and largest project to date was the renovation of the St. Petri Church tower in Lübeck from 2013 to 2018. The 12th-century brick façade was repaired from damage caused by frost and moisture. The repair work entailed the restoration of about 2,000 square meters of facade and 75 wrought-iron anchors who had to be checked and/or replaced. This work is ongoing, and the next big task will be to tackle the renovation of the tower shafts of the North and South towers of St. Marien.
 

Tradition and Intangible Cultural Heritage

The tradition of medieval construction workshops, which organized church building and maintenance, has a long history and was included as a “Best Practice” in the Federal Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in Germany. In February 2019, a joint application from construction workshops in five European states was submitted to be included in the International Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage – and in December 2020, it was entered into UNESCO’s international register.