Rescue for Rennau: Resident buys church to preserve village!

Rescue for Rennau: Resident buys church to preserve village!

Something remarkable is happening in the picturesque village of Rennau, which only has around 700 inhabitants. The child and adolescent psychiatrist Nando Röckemann acquired St. Stephen's Church to counteract its potential closure and decline. This initiative is part of a larger trend in Germany, where churches have increasingly had to decouple themselves from worship purposes in recent years. According to NDR reports, churches in Germany will have to sell one in three of their buildings in the long term.

St. Stephen's Church was de-dedicated in April 2025 and the bell was expanded. The purchase price of originally 30,000 euros was negotiated hard. Röckemann plans to remove the uncomfortable pews to make the building more accessible to the community. This leads to an important discussion about the future use of churches and their place in rural areas.

Challenges of subsequent use

The need to transform churches for community use is undisputed. Marcus Wagner, head of monument protection in the Helmstedt district, emphasizes that creative solutions are needed to prevent these historic buildings from falling into disrepair. The poor fire protection in church buildings represents a major challenge. A proposal for a second escape route through the sacristy is being discussed in order to meet the requirements for safe subsequent use.

In addition, a study shows that around 30% of the churches in the Berlin-Brandenburg region will no longer be used for worship purposes in the next ten years, as the German Foundation for Monument Protection states. The fact that a rethink is necessary is underlined by the examples of successful conversions such as daycare centers or sports facilities in other cities. Such creative projects could provide much-needed perspectives for many of these struggling buildings.

The historical dimension of the conversion of the church

But church conversion is not a new concept. In fact, conversions of churches have been documented since the Middle Ages. In the past, secularization has repeatedly led to churches being converted into new functions - whether as school rooms or agricultural businesses. These transformations are not only aimed at preserving the building structure, but also at creating social resonance spaces, as the political scientist Hartmut Rosa demands. It is essential to discover the potential of these spaces and to dare to undertake corresponding transformation processes.

But the discussion about the preservation and conversion of churches is not free of conflicts. While monument preservation sees the preservation of buildings as sacred spaces, theologians often find conversion of buildings problematic. The theological and architectural perspectives collide, which poses additional challenges for transformation.

The case of Röckemann in Rennau shows how important the commitment of the individual to the community is. With his project he could serve as a model for other communities that are looking for similar solutions for the future of their churches. As large churches grapple with declining membership and declining church tax revenue, creative repurposing of churches is a possible way to preserve and revitalize this valuable social space.

The conversion of churches in Germany is not only a current issue, but also a social task that requires a serious examination of the role of religious spaces in the modern world. Whether as a cultural marker or as a meeting place for different generations, churches have the potential to fulfill valuable functions beyond the service.