Matthäuskirche Buer | Photos & Services

The Matthäuskirche in Gelsenkirchen-Buer is a place that one does not just visit, but experiences: as a Protestant church, as a quiet retreat, and as a cultural address of the Christus-Kirchengemeinde Buer. Those looking for images, a church tour, current services, or the character of the building will find here a church with a clear design language, open usage, and a strong connection between devotion and music. The address at Cranger Straße 81 leads right into the Buer-Middelich district; at the same time, the church is located in an unusually green environment near the main cemetery, city forest, and Schloss Berge. Thus, it combines urban location with tranquility, history, and vibrant community life. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kirchenfuehrung-59678.html))

Images, Architecture, and Church Tour of Matthäuskirche

The first impression of Matthäuskirche is deliberately reserved and therefore strong. From Cranger Straße, the tall tower stands out, which at 35 meters is visible far beyond the surroundings and offers a wide view over the Christus-Kirchengemeinde, the arena, the gasometer, and even up to the Langenberg transmitter. The church stands at the boundary between Erle and Buer at the height of Haunerfeldstraße and is characterized by a green environment that makes the place appear almost like a small island of tranquility. This mix of traffic location and retreat makes Matthäuskirche particularly interesting photographically and atmospherically. Those looking for photos will find on the official pages exterior and interior views that well showcase the building's unique character. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kirchenfuehrung-59678.html))

The church tour of the community also shows that the building does not work with monumentality, but with clarity. Matthäuskirche was built in 1960 and consecrated in November 1960; it was intended to explicitly set a special urban planning accent at that time. The space is octagonal, designed as an octagon, and is complemented by a pergola that opens the view from the outside to the inside. This openness is typical of the architectural concept: The Protestant aspect appears here not as isolated, but visible and inviting. Inside, light, reduced forms, and the conscious focus on the center shape the impression. The official church tour makes it clear that the building is not only architecturally exciting but also expresses a theological stance: openness, encounter, and closeness to the community instead of representative distance. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kirchenfuehrung-59678.html))

Moreover, Matthäuskirche does not leave its history in a single narrative but presents it in several layers. The community refers to a commemorative publication for the 50th anniversary and to the structural redesign of the church space, which became necessary in 2009 due to urgent deficiencies. Thus, Matthäuskirche is not just a building from 1960 but a space that has developed its form over decades. This is particularly important for users looking for images, church tours, or historical backgrounds: Matthäuskirche is not a museum relic, but a place where architecture, renovation, and community practice belong together. This is also evident in the fact that the church space is kept deliberately simple to this day while remaining open for various uses. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kirchenfuehrung-59678.html))

Services, Baptisms, and Open Church

For many visitors, the most important question is not primarily the architecture but the usage: When do services take place, and how does the community live the place? The community page refers to a service poster for the current dates. Additionally, communion services for Matthäuskirche are scheduled: On the first Sunday of the month, wine is used, and on the third Sunday, grape juice. This makes the church a fixed anchor in the community's monthly rhythm. For baptisms, they usually take place on the second and fourth Sundays during the main service; in addition, there is a separate baptism service once per quarter that rotates among the three churches of the community. This clearly describes Matthäuskirche as a vibrant sacred space where classic community practice, family celebrations, and liturgical continuity come together. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/gottesdienste-24131.html))

Especially impressive is also the offer of the Open Church. Between April 1 and October 31, Matthäuskirche is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 12 PM. The official description makes it clear that the church is intended for quiet visits, prayer, remembrance, and short breaks in everyday life. Those looking for a place to linger after a cemetery visit or simply want to experience a quiet moment in the church space will find here a deliberately open framework. Also, impulses, hymnals, Bibles, and the opportunity to anonymously submit prayer requests are part of this offer. Thus, Matthäuskirche is not just an event venue but a space for personal spirituality and comfort in everyday life. Especially in a lively environment on Cranger Straße, this open practice has a special value. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/offene-kirche.html))

Matthäuskirche is thus much more than a beautiful backdrop for Sundays. It is integrated into concrete community work and is designed so openly that different target groups can find their access. Families use the place for baptisms and children's church, community members for regular communion dates, and individual visitors through the Open Church. The official website emphasizes in this context that Matthäuskirche is a place of silence and comfort. This is particularly important for search intentions around services and visiting times, as it is not about a single event, but about recurring, reliable usage. Exactly this reliability makes Matthäuskirche so relevant in the everyday life of the community. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/offene-kirche.html))

Music, Concerts, and Art Discovers Church

Matthäuskirche is not only a place of prayer but also a clearly defined cultural address. Particularly important is the association KeK e.V., Art Discovers Church, which was founded in February 2007 to promote cultural work at Matthäuskirche. The description of the association shows that not only events are offered here, but a continuous cultural practice has emerged. Tasks include planning, organization, public relations, ticket sales, and the execution of events on site. The result is a program that is well-known and popular in Gelsenkirchen and supported by sponsors. Thus, Matthäuskirche becomes a space where community and culture do not displace each other but mutually reinforce. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kunst-entdeckt-kirche.html))

A key partner in this cultural profile is the Neue Philharmonie Westfalen. The church tour explicitly highlights that Matthäuskirche is a venue for this ensemble and other well-known artists and groups. Among other things, choir concerts, spiritual music, song evenings, expressive concert formats, and exhibitions are mentioned. This is important for the perception of the church because it is thus not only used for church occasions but is also considered an acoustically and atmospherically suitable space for high-quality musical performances. The combination of clear architecture, open space, and artistic program makes Matthäuskirche particularly attractive for visitors looking for concert venues or special church spaces in Gelsenkirchen. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kirchenfuehrung-59678.html))

The cultural equipment also includes the church's own music technology. The official church tour mentions a Schuke organ with 18 registers from 1960 and a Feurich grand piano measuring 2.20 meters in length. Both underscore that Matthäuskirche is not only a sacred space but also a professionally usable music venue. Additionally, the community description highlights the flexible elements of the space that allow for different forms of service, concert, and exhibition. This makes it clear why Matthäuskirche is repeatedly chosen for special evenings, musical programs, and artistic encounters. Thus, those looking for a church with cultural life will find not only historical architecture here but also an actively maintained focus on events. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kirchenfuehrung-59678.html))

Among the charming features is also the Christmas nativity scene, which is set up with wooden figures 50 to 70 centimeters tall. The community describes that Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and the kings do not simply stand statically but gradually move into the Christmas story over the course of the Advent weeks. Such details make Matthäuskirche emotionally tangible: a space that is suitable for large concerts can also be very approachable and familial. This is a good example of how the church connects its cultural and spiritual identity. For search queries regarding images, special motifs, or the character of Matthäuskirche, this mix of music, nativity scene, light, and simple architecture is particularly relevant. ([kirchegelsenkirchen.de](https://www.kirchegelsenkirchen.de/infos/unsere-kirchen/matthaeuskirche))

Seating, Room Concept, and Equipment

Matthäuskirche is consciously oriented towards the center in its form. The church space is designed as an octagon, with the altar standing in its center. This altar is cubically designed and resembles a cut-out cross in its shape. Around it, the community celebrates communion, making the spatial order immediately liturgically readable. The church tour mentions 220 seats in the pews and an additional 230 chairs. Together, this results in a very respectable capacity that is suitable for both regular services and concerts, weddings, and special community events. This combination of clear basic form and variable seating is a central advantage of Matthäuskirche. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kirchenfuehrung-59678.html))

The equipment also includes the new principal pieces designed by Oswald Krause-Rischard. The artist primarily worked with warm wood, while glass at the pulpit, lector's desk, and baptismal bowl deliberately retains the industrial character of the church. Additionally, the bronze sculpture of the crucified and resurrected Christ focuses the gaze in the room and further marks the center of the church space. This creates a mix of simplicity and strong symbolism that does not overload the interior but makes it clearly readable. Those observing Matthäuskirche quickly recognize that it does not rely on decorative abundance but on concentration, light, and a calm spiritual effect. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kirchenfuehrung-59678.html))

The building itself was constructed in 1960 in 17 months and incurred construction costs that, in today's currency, amounted to around 320,000 euros. The tower is 32 meters high; the church tour even mentions a 35-meter-high tower, which explains the building's impact in the urban landscape. In November 1960, the church was consecrated and was considered a building with idiosyncratic architecture and a special urban planning accent at that time. This original independence has been retained by Matthäuskirche to this day. When the church space was renovated in 2009 due to urgent deficiencies, this was not done in the sense of a break but of a careful renewal. This preserved the building's special identity while modernizing function and usage. ([kirchegelsenkirchen.de](https://www.kirchegelsenkirchen.de/infos/unsere-kirchen/matthaeuskirche))

Location in Buer-Middelich and Orientation for the Visit

The location of Matthäuskirche is one of its quiet advantages. It is located at Cranger Straße 81 in Buer-Middelich, between Erle and Buer, and is embedded in a green environment near the main cemetery, city forest, and Schloss Berge. This makes the church easily accessible for both community members and visitors, as it is situated on a well-known main road while being surrounded by landscape and open space. The official description even emphasizes that the church appears almost idyllic from the outside, even though it is directly on a lively traffic axis. This tension between urban location and tranquility shapes the visit. Those looking for a place for a short stop, a service, a cultural evening, or a quiet moment will find here very clear orientation: the address itself is already part of the experience. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/matthaeuskirche/kirchenfuehrung-59678.html))

Organizationally, Matthäuskirche belongs to the Evangelical Christus-Kirchengemeinde Buer, which has been formed since Pentecost 2010 from the communities of Buer-Erle, Buer-Middelich, Resse, and Resser Mark. The community also includes the Trinity Church, the Thomas Church, and the Paul Church. For search queries regarding Matthäuskirche, this context is important because many offerings are not organized in isolation but together within the community: services, children's church, baptisms, music, and cultural formats. Therefore, those seeking the exact profile of Matthäuskirche should always understand it as part of a larger community association. This explains why the place appears both locally rooted and thematically broadly positioned. ([kirchegelsenkirchen.de](https://www.kirchegelsenkirchen.de/kirchengemeinden/gelsenkirchen-buer/buer-christus/))

For practical visits, Matthäuskirche is particularly attractive when one wants to consciously combine tranquility, architecture, and culture. The Open Church offers fixed times in the summer half-year, the service page lists the liturgical rhythms, and the cultural work ensures additional events in the church space. Those with questions about dates or the community will find contacts, the community office, and current information about events on the website of the church district and the community. Thus, Matthäuskirche becomes a place where one does not just pass by but where one can plan a meaningful stop. Exactly this makes its charm: It is a church, concert venue, place of silence, and community space in one. ([christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de](https://www.christus-kirchengemeinde-buer.de/index.php/kontakte.html))

Sources:

• Church Gelsenkirchen and Wattenscheid - Matthäuskirche
• Christus-Kirchengemeinde Buer - Church Tour Matthäuskirche
• Christus-Kirchengemeinde Buer - Open Matthäuskirche
• Christus-Kirchengemeinde Buer - Art Discovers Church
• Christus-Kirchengemeinde Buer - Services Matthäuskirche
• Christus-Kirchengemeinde Buer - Contacts