St. Christoph Church, Mainz

Saint Christoph Church is a significant piece of Mainz’s architectural and historical landscape. Constructed between 1240 and 1330, this early Gothic structure originally stood as a parish church, deeply entwined with the city's medieval fabric. First mentioned in documents from 893, the church was later under the patronage of Saint Maximin's Abbey, as established by Pope Innocent II in 1140. One of its notable features is the Romanesque tower, built around 1240, which remains standing to this day, a rare survivor from its original state.

Over the centuries, the church was renovated, most notably in the 17th and 18th centuries, when it received Baroque elements. In 1543, Peter Canisius, an influential figure in the Counter-Reformation, took his Jesuit vows at Saint Christoph, marking another layer of historical significance.

Tragically, during World War II, the church was almost destroyed. The air raids of 1942 set it ablaze, and the devastating bombing on February 27, 1945, caused the vaults to collapse. However, the outer walls were restored and now serve as a central war memorial, commemorating the victims of the bombings and the wider destruction of Mainz during the war. A poignant plaque on the church floor reads "In memory of the dead / as a reminder for the living". Sculptor Heinz Hemrich added further symbolism to the memorial with reliefs on the new buttresses, representing various stages of the city's history.

Adjacent to the church stands a modern statue of Johannes Gutenberg, created by Karl Heinz Oswald in 2000 to celebrate the legacy of the city's most famous son. The iron sculpture depicts Gutenberg's printing press, an invention that forever changed the world of communication.

Within the ruins, a small chapel has been renovated, complete with stained glass windows designed by Alois Plum. This chapel, owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz, now serves as a place for ecumenical prayers for peace, which have been held weekly since 2020, following the Coventry Cross of Nails tradition. The chapel also hosts services by various Christian denominations, symbolizing hope and unity in a place marked by past destruction.