Overview
- The church’s roof collapsed along its full length on 6 November 2023 and a church employee who was inside was uninjured.
- Work to replace the temporary cover has started with 16 prefabricated one‑tonne roof trusses being set onto the masonry and a metal sandwich roof to follow, with completion expected by the end of the year.
- Material tests by the University of Kassel confirmed that missing or irregularly applied glue in glued timber joints was a key cause, and a 2024 engineering report also cited undersized trusses and long‑term weather and construction stresses.
- The building insurer has refused to pay, saying the collapse resulted from construction‑era defects, and the diocese has spent roughly €1 million so far while planning how to finance remaining work.
- The diocese plans to reopen the space for worship and cultural events in a deliberate multi‑year transition that will leave interior damage visible and include a documenta sound installation made from the ruined organ.