Virtual tour
What you need to know about St. Jacobi
St. Jacobi is one of five “main churches“ (Hauptkirchen) of Hamburg and dates back to 1255. The typical gothic hall church which we see today, however, was built about 100 years later. For a short time its location was outside the city walls and could thus accomodate pilgrims who did not reach the city before its gates were closed at sunset. Hamburg was a stage for St. James pilgrims from the north and the east since it kept two of St. James‘ relics. In 1529 St. Jacobi became a Lutheran church. Hamburg was occupied by Napoleonic troops from 1806 to 1813. St. Jacobi, like others, was used as stables and its equipment was partly vandalized. In 1944 St. Jacobi was destroyed by bombs. Its reconstruction took until 1962. Luckily its famous Arp-Schnitger-Organ and its valuable partly medieval and baroque equipment had been safely stored. Nowadays St. Jacobi is located between the busy streets of Mönckebergstraße and Steinstraße, the first paved street of Hamburg. When entering the peaceful light flooded naves with their three medieval altars, the noise of the city melts away and you are surrounded by an atmosphere of tranquility.
The windows in the choir by Carl Crodel
The windows (1959/60) in the choir were created by Carl Crodel. They depict motives of the ecclesiastical year: Annunciation and Christmas, Passion, Good Friday, Easter and Pentecost and the beginning of the church (St. Paul).
The trinity altar - with 360°-view
The trinity altar (approximately 1518) was donated by the brotherhood of coopers and was at the time one of the 20 altars, all standing next to the columns and donated by different brotherhoods. The centerpiece shows the Holy Trinity at the top and beneath it St. Mary with Jesus surrounded by rays that end in roses. The four saints are George, presumably Laurentius, Barbara and Margarete. When you look at the altar wings from left to right, you will recognize representations of the joys of St. Mary: the Annunciation, meeting her cousin Elisatbeth who is pregnant with John the Baptist, the birth of Jesus, the worship of the wise men, the visit of the risen Christ, the assumption of Mary. The crucifix and the candlesticks were designed by Fritz Fleer (1921 - 1997).
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Baptistry and St. Peter’s altar - with 360°-view
The baptistry is home to the baptismal font (1827) made out of red marble and St. Peter’s altar from 1508, donated by the brotherhood of fishermen. Its centerpiece shows St. Mary with baby Jesus in her arms scraping out a feeding cup. Beneath the moon a fallen angel can be seen which symbolizes the end of satan caused by the birth of Jesus Christ. On the left wing you can see two stages of St. Peter’s life: at the top his vocation and beneath Jesus Christ passing the keys to him. The right wing shows noble St. Gertrud welcoming St. James pilgrims and her ordination as an abbess.
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Windows in the baptismal chapel
The windows, by Carl Crodel (1961), take up baptism motives, the baptism of Jesus, the treasurer from Ethiopia and “suffer the little children to come unto me“ (Mk 10, 13).
St. Luke’s altar - with video and 360°-view
In the second south nave is St. Luke’s altar (1499) which originally belonged to the cathedral. Its center tells different legends, St. Lucy with her eyes torn out, the mystical wedding of Jesus and St. Katharine of Alexandria, and St. Luke painting St. Mary with Jesus. The scene is observed by the four Church Fathers Ambrosius, Hieronymus, Gregor the Great and Augustinus and the deacon St. Cyriakus. The left wing pictures the Emmaus story (St. Luke 24, 13 - 30), the right wing the ars moriendi of the Middle Ages, the death of St. Luke.
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Epitaph of the sculptor Jost Rogge
At the western end of the nave is the huge epitaph of the sculptor Jost Rogge (1610). The wooden frame containing several depictions of virtues (Faith, Hope, Love, etc.) presents a huge crucifixion image by the painter Willikens from Lübeck.
Monuments workshop - with video
The monuments workshop at St. Jacobi can look back on 20 years of history. Sacred artworks are restored here across 3 levels in collaboration with the Heritage Protection Office of the Hamburg City Government (Denkmalschutzamt). So far, the focus has been on restoring canvases, panels, and wooden sculptures, with many significant restoration projects already complete.
Pilgrim’s chapel
The “pilgrim’s centre of the north” is located in a Gothic side-chapel of St. Jacobi and was opened as a pilgrim’s chapel in 2013. It also serves as the central coordination point for pilgrim work in Hamburg and across the whole northern church.
Pilgrims, and those who would like to be, can get information here covering everything they need to consider for a short or long-term pilgrimage, across all of the northern German and European pilgrimage routes.
Pastor Bernd Lohse, his assistant Claudia Exner and a large team of volunteers regularly host events, providing information, a chance to meet other pilgrims, and share experiences, as well as special church services for pilgrims. This includes the monthly Pilger Vespers, at which pilgrims can receive blessings for their journey and their return to daily life.
There is also a comprehensive library on the subject available for visitors.
Check here for opening hours.
Organ gallery
The organ gallery, renovated in 1993, displays 34 paintings by Otto Wagenfeldt (dating from approximately 1650)—a visual companion to the bible, featuring scenes from the old and new testament.
Arp Schnitger organ - with video and 360°-view
Above is the famous organ built by Arp Schnitger (1693) with its 60 stops and about 4000 pipes. It was restored from 1983 to 1993 and is now one of the most important baroque organs in Europe.
The 360°-view can be moved by clicking your mouse.
Painting by David Kindt
David Kindt’s “Everyman“ or “The Rich Man and Death” (1622) is an excellent example of northern German painting. It is meant to warn you not against wealth itself, but against its temptations resulting in pride (superbia).
Hamburg painted by Joachim Luhn
In 1681 Joachim Luhn painted the city of Hamburg for the town hall. It was given to St. Jacobi in 1819. It conveys a good and detailed impression of Hamburg at that time.
Easter church altar
The alter in the north nave dates from the late Middle Ages, and comes from the Osterkirche in Eilbek, to the east of Hamburg city. Its painted panels show the relationship between incarnation of Christ and the passion of Christ.
Previously, a wooden statue of St. James stood in the apse, in his pilgrim’s garments – with a slouch hat, pilgrim’s scallop shell, cloak, bag, and staff, as well as the book that marks him as an apostle. The statue is currently being restored and will be housed in a new location on its completion.
Sacristy
The sacristy, the room in which the priest prepares for the service, is equipped with an altar. This also houses the silver communion vessels.
The two-storey building dates back to 1434, and is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Hamburg. The ground floor houses the ministers’ hall, which was established in 1543 (see figure). The room is characterised by Gothic arches, with a large central support pillar.
Ministers‘ Hall – with video and 360°-view
The room we call the ministers‘ hall is one of the lesser-known treasures of St. Jacobi. Although we do not know exactly when it was built, contemporary and subsequent records show the upper floor of the sacristy had been completed by 1500.
Together, they make up the oldest building that is still standing as it was built, having stood the test of time. The ministers’ hall was and is still today used for church committee meetings – where church and community matters are discussed and decided.
More information is available here.
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Pulpit
The pulpit was created by Georg Baumann in 1610, an outstanding example of the art of stonemasons in Hamburg, made of alabaster, marble and sandstone. Its motives are: The annunciation, the birth of Jesus, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the ascension of Christ. Next to the steps are the evangelists St. Matthew with an angel, St. Mark with a lion, St. Luke with a bull and St. John with an eagle. The door leading to the steps shows Fides with the chalice and the crucifix, above it are the pouring out of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost and the three apostles St. Peter, St. Paul and St. James.