St John’s Church – A Portrait

St John’s Church – A Living Example of a Great History

The history of St John’s Church traces back to the mention of one of its predecessor churches in 941. In 1015, the church entered the history books as the first merchants’ church in Germany. Martin Luther delivered a sermon in St John’s Church in 1524, which was an important event for Magdeburg’s connections with the Protestant Reformation. St John’s Church is additionally the burial place of Otto von Guericke, the father of experimental physics and inventor of the vacuum pump. The building is located in the city centre of Magdeburg, in close proximity to the Town Hall, Alter Markt (Old Marketplace) and the Elbe river. It was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, but, after a long restoration process, it reopened to the public in October 1999. The historically-orientated reconstruction of St John’s Church formed a modern and impressive venue for concerts, conferences and exhibitions, which is unique to Germany. It also reinstated an essential part of Magdeburg’s impressive skyline, which can be seen from a great distance, back to the capital of Saxony-Anhalt.
With its large main hall and several adjoining halls, the church acts as an ideal location for extremely special, carefully selected events that require a formal but equally exclusive venue, for example honours ceremonies, award ceremonies, grand functions, classical and jazz concerts, ballet previews, the “Full Moon Night” and readings. The most exclusive and prominent event is without a doubt the New Year’s Eve Gala “Opera, Pasta & Dolci”.
St John’s Church can also be visited as a museum. It is, however, closed on Mondays and when events are taking place.
Admission is free.
Sanitary facilities and entrances are certified handicapped accessible.

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