Sankt Laurentius

St. Laurentius stands in Wuppertal-Elberfeld on Laurentiusplatz, a classical church built between 1828 and 1835 by Adolph von Vagedes. It replaced an earlier Catholic church and became the city’s main Catholic place of worship after the Reformation. The building faces south towards the square rather than east, creating a strong urban presence. Its twin towers and sandstone walls in pink and white give it a dignified appearance. The church was severely damaged in the 1943 air raid but rebuilt over decades. In 2013 it was raised to the rank of a minor basilica by papal decree. The church is notable for its social history. Adolph Kolping served here as curate from 1845 to 1849 and a relic of his is kept in a side altar. The organ by Romanus Seifert, installed in 1964, has 35 stops and an electronic setzer system. Seven bronze bells hang in the west tower, the largest peal in Wuppertal. The building also houses a smaller choir organ transferred from Dönberg. Inside, the rectangular nave leads to a simple rectangular choir lit by round-arched windows. The entrance portal sits beneath a half-moon window framed by columns. The interior was restored in the 1970s and again in 2009 when the vault was repaired. The surrounding Luisenviertel was redeveloped in the 1980s, restoring the church and its square as a lively centre of Elberfeld life.