St. Theresa's Church, Aachen

The Theresienkirche is a Catholic church formerly affiliated to the Carmel of Saint Theresa of Avila. The church was built between 1739 and 1745 by Laurenz Mefferdatis; the Baroque architect Johann Joseph Couven designed the interior. As part of secularization, the building became municipal property in 1802.

In 1943 the Theresienkirche burned down. To avoid fire hazard in case of an attack during WWII, the altars, communion rails, pulpit and 18th-century wall paneling had been removed and dumped into a castle moat. In 1945 it was still possible to salvage them, but the weather elements had affected the wooden items so badly that they could only be used as a model for future reconstruction.

In the 1950s, the church was rebuilt to appear like it was back in the 18th century; the furnishings, however, were restored only in the 1970s.

The Neoclassical brick edifice has a three-axis structure divided by pilasters with an arched window and a segmented gable. The structure follows the course of the street that had already existed in the 18th century and was therefore not built in the typical east-west orientation.

By inserting a triangular staircase, Mefferdatis succeeded in realizing a rectangular interior floor plan. The single-nave hall is vaulted with three bays. The choir is located behind a high triumphal arch.

The columned main altar with gilded Corinthian capitals is made of oak. The Rococo carvings of two angels decorate the tabernacle. The entire interior decoration was donated by Johann von Wespien in 1754, whose sister was the reverend mother of the convent, Maria Anna van Wespien. Their coats of arms are seen above the paintings in the altar, between the two palm leaves, reminding of the donation made.

Presently, the church is used by the Romanian Orthodox congregation of the Holy Trinity.