Grabeskirche – The graves-church: a new model for “neighborhood cemeteries”?

Abstract

With most of Europe experiencing a reduction in the priesthood and increased secularization, more and more Churches are left underused and/or closed. This paper explores how under utilizied churches in the northern Rheine-Westphalia region of Germany have converted into Grabeskirche, which has offered the spaces a new life and an economic return to its parishes. Looking closely at the conversion of five Churches into Grabeskirche; St. Joseph in Aachen, St. Bartholomaus outside of Koln, Namen-Jesu-Kirche in Bonn, St. Elizabeth in the outskirts of Monchegadblach and St. Josef close to Monchengladbach, the case studies will reveal how the separation of cemeterial rites, functions and rituals can once again join the liturgical space of a Church. The Grabeskirke represents a new economic and cultural model that allows a church to be self-sustaining and enable its retention in an era of post-secularization.