St. Peter's Church (Petruskirche)

About the building

On Brunnadernstrasse stands the Reformed Petruskirche, a building of 1947 to 1949 designed by the Bern architect Max Böhm. In its overall form and its details it takes its cue from early Christian hall churches. The six-bay nave has a slightly narrower front section with staircase and baptistery to the west, and to the east a clearly separate choir with a segmental arch and low flanking buildings. In front of the north-west corner rises the slender bell tower; according to Wikipedia it is 35 metres high and has five bells.

Structurally it is a concrete post building whose panels are rendered; tower and nave are built the same way. The two-storey parish house with a gabled roof joins the two eastern bays of the north side at right angles. A porch along the north facade links it with the tower. Above, the upper wall of the nave is pierced by four round windows, while on the south side tall round-arched windows let in the light. Because the ground slopes, the south facade has a base with windows, faced with granite slabs.

Along its whole length the porch is decorated with reliefs on the story of the Apostle Peter. They are by the sculptor Gustave Piguet, who in 1951 created scenes from the Acts of the Apostles, from the Old and New Testaments and the Baptism of Christ in Laufen limestone and Paris shell limestone. He also made the pulpit, in the manner of an early Christian ambo, and the communion table, both with reliefs and inscriptions. In the parish house hangs the painting "The Calling of Peter" by Fritz Pauli from 1950.

Inside, concrete trusses divide the spacious hall into six equal bays; the westernmost holds the organ gallery. The choir is entirely clad in travertine slabs and is dominated over its full height by a cross with reliefs. According to the building inventory the church, together with its furnishings, has kept the state of its construction period well; it was renovated in 1998, when the parish house was given a lift. Its best-known pastor, according to Wikipedia, was Klaus Schädelin. A detail to look for: on the lintel of the side entrance an inscription names the construction years 1947–49 and the architect.

Researched and summarised by Bärn Kit. Sources: Bauinventar der Stadt Bern: Brunnadernstrasse 40 · Wikipedia (de): Petruskirche (Bern) · Wikidata: Q1585430