Christuskirche (Christ Church) | Windhoek

Information

Landmark: Christuskirche (Christ Church)
City: Windhoek
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Christuskirche (Christ Church), Windhoek, Namibia, Africa

Christ Church is a Lutheran landmark and historic monument located on Fidel Castro Street in the city center of Windhoek, Namibia. It stands on a traffic island at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Avenue and Fidel Castro Street, adjacent to the Parliament Gardens and the Tintenpalast.

Visual Characteristics

The building features a Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau architectural style, constructed primarily from local quartz sandstone quarried near the Avis Dam. The structure is characterized by a single 24-meter spire, a steep lead roof, and a portico with three Carrara marble columns. The interior contains three stained-glass windows gifted by Emperor Wilhelm II, which were manufactured in Nuremberg and framed in lead.

Location & Access Logistics

The church is situated 0.5km east of the central business district. Access is via Robert Mugabe Avenue (B1); street parking is available along Fidel Castro Street and the nearby Parliament Gardens perimeter. Public transport options include local shared taxis that frequent the Robert Mugabe Avenue corridor.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Architect Gottlieb Redecker designed the church, with construction beginning in 1907 following the end of the wars between the Germans and the Nama, Herero, and Ovambo people. It was officially consecrated on October 16, 1910, serving as a "Church of Peace" and a place of worship for the German Evangelical Lutheran congregation.

Key Highlights & Activities

The church remains an active place of worship with Sunday services held in German at 10:00. Self-guided interior tours are available during specific weekday morning hours when the church office is open. Photography is permitted from the surrounding pedestrian paths and the Parliament Gardens.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Public restrooms are available in the adjacent Parliament Gardens. There is no dedicated visitor center or on-site food vendor, though multiple cafes are located within a 300-meter walk on Independence Avenue. The area has consistent 4G and 5G cellular coverage. Shade is provided by trees in the surrounding gardens.

Best Time to Visit

The best time for photography is late afternoon when the sun illuminates the western sandstone facade. The church interior is most accessible between 09:00 and 12:00, Monday through Friday. May to September offers the most temperate weather for walking the exterior grounds.

Facts & Legends

The bronze bells housed in the spire were cast by the Franz Schilling foundry in Apolda, Germany. A common local historical note is that the heavy construction materials, including the marble columns and the bells, had to be transported from the coast at Swakopmund to Windhoek via the newly completed narrow-gauge railway.