Reformierte Kirche (Reformed Church), Leipzig

The Reformed Church (Reformierte Kirche) in Leipzig along with its parish center, is a pioneering example of a unified construction combining a church and a rectory in one building. Designed by architects Gerhard Weidenbach and Richard Tschammer, the neo-Renaissance style community center was notable for its integration of the church with the parsonage, a concept that was groundbreaking at the time. This design was innovative, as churches were traditionally standalone structures and rarely part of a larger building complex. The project earned first prize at the Paris World Exhibition in 1899.

Constructed between 1896 and 1899 on the Tröndlingring, just north of Leipzig's historic city center, the church features a 67-meter high tower and is adorned with decorative elements like bay windows, canopies, balustrades, and balconies. The building’s design marks it as the first historicist religious structure in Leipzig influenced by Renaissance architecture.

The church suffered severe damage during the bombing raid on Leipzig on the night of December 4, 1943. Reconstruction efforts began immediately, with the church reopening for services in 1950 and the full reconstruction completed by 1969. The rebuilding followed a simplified design aligned with the original Weidenbach layout, and the interior was arranged according to the principles of the Wiesbaden Programme of 1891, which prescribed a unified arrangement of the communion table, pulpit, and organ.

The Reformed Church also played a significant role during the Peaceful Revolution of 1989. It was one of the first churches, following Saint Nicholas Church, to hold prayers for peace starting on October 2. The church's tower served as a vantage point for secretly filming the large demonstration on October 9, 1989, with these images later broadcast on television, contributing to the broader movement towards German reunification.