Evangelical Lutheran Church of São Paulo

Coordinates: 23°32′31.16″S 46°38′16.48″W

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of São Paulo

(Portuguese: Igreja Evangélica Luterana de São Paulo), also Lutheran Church of São
known as Martin Luther Church, is one of the headquarters Paulo
of the Southeast Synod of the Evangelical Church of Lutheran
Confession in Brazil, located near the Largo do Paiçandu, in
the historic center of São Paulo. The temple was founded on
December 25, 1908, being one of the main meeting places of
the German community in the first half of the twentieth
century.[1]

Initially, it was called by the German name Stadtkirche, being

later known as Mother Church and then, only in 1991, being
baptized as Martin Luther Church. It is considered the first
evangelical Lutheran parish in the city of São Paulo, as well as
the first temple in the neo-Gothic style to be built in the city.[1]

History
The evangelical Lutheran community that lived in São Paulo
since the beginning of the nineteenth century was organized
autonomously, without the initial presence of pastors. The The church in 2016
group had difficulties during the course of the 1800s due to the
Catholic regime that existed in Brazil.[2]

The first meeting of the German Lutheran community in São

Paulo occurred on December 26, 1858, at the drugstore Ao
Veado d'Ouro.[3] The ceremonies were performed in the
German language, due to the large number of Germans among
the visitors, who were attended by pastors of Rio Claro and
Campinas until 1871, when Pastor Emil Bamberg founded the
first Evangelical Lutheran community in São Paulo, "Egreja
Evangélica Alleman".
General information
Beginning November 15, 1889, with the Proclamation of the Status Under re-
Republic of Brazil and the separation of the state and the
construction
church, members of the Evangelical Lutheran community had
more freedom for the development of religion. On October 29, Architectural Neogothic
1891, Pastor Emil Bamberg was able to organize the style
community, which initially brought together 80 families. The Town or city São Paulo
registration of the statutes of the religious association, however,
Country Brazil
was only published in 1907.[2]
While Lutheran evangelicals raised donations for the Construction 1907
construction of the first temple in São Paulo, the services were started
also held in a Presbyterian Church.[3]
Completed 1909
Destroyed 1 May 2018
Construction Height 40 m

In 1906, the brothers Daniel and Hermann Heydenreich Technical details

donated land in the then street Visconde of the White River, Structural system Ruin
numbers 10 and 12 (current Rio Branco Avenue, number
Floor count 4
34).[4] The donation record only occurred on April 3, 1907, 11
days before the foundation stone was laid.[5] The work was
completed only on November 28, 1909, and was the scene of worship in the Evangelical Lutheran
community before the end of construction.

Inauguration

In August 1908, the church's pastoral house, at the bottom of the land, was inaugurated with the creation of
an administrative office. Four months later, on December 25, 1908, in the midst of the Christmas
celebration, the Martin Luther church was inaugurated, then named Stadtkirche in German, which means
"City Church".[5]

During the festival, there were Christmas carols chanted by a choir, honored by about five hundred people.
Bells, also donated by the Heydenreich brothers, were sounded in the middle of the ceremony.[6] With the
completion of the work only on November 28, 1909, was also organized a party, with the presence of
pastors of the Rio de Janeiro, Campinas, Rio Claro, of Santos and Petrópolis.

First World War

In the midst of World War I, the Evangelical Lutheran community, predominantly of German origin,
struggled to stay in São Paulo, due precisely to the proximity to Germany, which was part of the Triple
Alliance and ended up being defeated in the conflict.[2]

In 1917, the Brazilian government broke off relations with Germany and, shortly afterwards, in São Paulo,
the celebration of cults in celebration for the 400 years of the Protestant Reformation was prohibited. In the
following years, without the money received by the German community, the church suffered with a strong
financial crisis.[5]

Second World War

New problems arise with the beginning of World War II, with Brazil breaking relations once again with
Germany, and in 1943, by sending troops to fight against the Axis powers. During this period, by the
determination of the then president Getúlio Vargas, the celebrations could no longer be performed in
German. The introduction of Portuguese, however, generated a strong integration of the community with
Brazilians.[3][7]

Architectural features
The Martin Luther Church was designed by the architect Guilherme von Eÿe, also responsible for the
construction of the São Paulo Conservatory of Dramatic and Musical Conservatory, completed in 1907.[1]

First building built in the Neogothic style in São Paulo, the temple sits in an area of just over 1012 square
meters and has a ground floor area of 465 square meters. The church has a unique tower, which is
centralized to the main facade. The main access of the church is through a wooden door with two leaves.[3]

Reform

Between 2012 and 2013, the Martin Luther Church underwent an

internal reform. A large study was conducted by Companhia do
Restauro to retake the initial characteristics of the church, according
to what the Municipal Council for the Preservation of the
Historical, Cultural and Environmental Heritage of the City of São
Paulo determined.[8][9] Due to lack of money, the restoration could
not be made in the outer area of the temple.[3] The Lutheran
Church of São Paulo tried to get support from the Rouanet Law,
but could not have access to the economic incentive. Layer study of inner walls of Martin
Luther Lutheran Church

Organ

In 1909 was inaugurated in the church an organ constructed by the

Walcker House that, originally, had 12 registries and 620 pipes.
The instrument was reformed in 1956, when the number of pipes
surpassed 1,090 pipes. A new extension in 1995, made by the
organist Ricardo Clerice, caused the organ to reach the current
1,146 pipes.[10][11]

Stained glass
Front door of the Martin Luther
Church with detail for the Walcker
The Martin Luther Church has stained glass, produced by Casa
Music Organ on the top floor
Conrado,[12] of the stained glass artist Conrado Sorgenicht, who
produced the pieces of the Market and the Municipal Theater of
São Paulo.[13] In the temple of the Rio Branco avenue, the stained glass exposes the Luther Seal and
passages of the gospel.

Historical significance
The Martin Luther Church was a symbol for the settlement of the German community in São Paulo and for
the union of the Lutherans in the city. No matter how many groups already existed in the neighborhoods of
Vila Ema, Vila Zelina, Vila Prudente and Santo Amaro,[5] the church of the center became the religious
symbol of that town, that already divided spaces like Deutsche Schule, and the Sport Club Germánia
(current Esporte Clube Pinheiros), since the mid-nineteenth century.[14]
Despite the difficulties of the two world wars, the temple became a reference for Lutheran evangelicals in
the city of São Paulo.[7]

Heritage

The Church Martin Luther was registered in 1992 by the Municipal Council of Preservation of the
Historical, Cultural and Environmental Patrimony of the City of São Paulo and in 2012 by the Council for
the Defense of Historical, Archaeological, Artistic and Tourist Heritage (CONDEPHAAT) of the State of
São Paulo.[1][15] The temple is under Protection Level 1, which requires the integral preservation of the
good.

Current state
Currently, Martin Luther Church is in the midst of busy buildings of large stature, which have been
occupied by homeless people, and have problems with serious external malfunctions due to time and
vandalism.[16] The temple continues to be a meeting place of the German community in São Paulo, but has
suffered with the reduction and aging of the faithful. The difficulties also appear due to the large number of
evangelical churches in the city, which caused the spreading of the regulars.[17]

In addition to the services that take place every Sunday, the church organizes every Friday a snack for street
dwellers in the central region of São Paulo, who can register and keep the documents in the temple to avoid
losses and breakdowns.[18]

Collapse
At dawn on May 1, 2018, a fire occurred at Edifício Wilton Paes de Almeida, a building occupied by
homeless people, located alongside the church. The building collapsed and destroyed part of the church,
including most of the stained glass and other historical pieces.[19]

Reconstruction
The Lutheran Church is to spend more than R$4.2 million (2019) (US$1.06 million) to rebuild 80% of the
destroyed structure on May 1, 2018. Works began on March 27, 2019.[20] A piano and a German pipe
organ of 1908 was also damaged, valued at R$1 million (US$253,518), had minor breakdowns. For safety,
the instrument was disassembled and returned after the reconstruction was completed.

With 30% of the total amount for reconstruction collected by the church (around R$1.7 million
(US$430,979.8), the first phase of work began in March 27, 2019. The money was obtained through
property insurance and donations from the faithful. The first stage of the work consisted of strengthening
the foundations, rebuilding the side wall, roof and lining, stained glass frame and mooring of the altar.
Throughout the following stages, were planned the revision of the tower structure and the reconstruction of
the stained glass, benches, chandeliers and more.[20] The rebuilt was finished in 2021.

Gallery

Rear view of Martin Luther Lutheran One of the stained glass windows of
Church front tower the Martin Luther Church, depicting
Pentecost, produced by the Conrad
House

Altar of Igreja Martin Luther Martin Luther Church dividing space

with building in the center of São
Paulo
 Evangelical Lutheran Church of São
Paulo, which collapsed along with
the Wilton Paes de Almeida building,
at Largo do Paiçandu.

References
1. Processo de Tombamento pelo Conpresp – Resolução 37/91-71. p. 21
2. Araújo, Cristiane (2007). Âncora (ed.). Impressão do Espaço Sagrado: a centenária Igreja
Evangélica de Confissão Luterana em São Paulo. p. 10.
3. Cardoso, Mônica (23 December 2008). " "Templo Luterano em São Paulo completa 100
anos" " (http://www.crmariocovas.sp.gov.br/noticia.php?it=11873). Retrieved 19 October
2016.
4. Primeiro Cartório de Imóveis da Capital – nº 45904 – livro 3-A-J-40, 1ª série
5. Araújo, Cristiane (2007). Âncora (ed.). Impressão do Espaço Sagrado: a centenária Igreja
Evangélica de Confissão Luterana em São Paulo. p. 11.
6. Begrich, Martin (1962). São Paulo Sinodo evangélico do brasil central 1962 (ed.).
Jubiläums-Festschrift zur Wiederkehr des 50. Gründungstages der Mittelbrasilianischen
Synode am 28./30. Juni 1912. p. 55.
7. Araújo, Cristiane (2007). Âncora (ed.). Impressão do Espaço Sagrado: a centenária Igreja
Evangélica de Confissão Luterana em São Paulo. p. 12.
8. Ditolvo, Ana Marta (2011). Unicamp (ed.). Mestrado: Procedimentos Investigativos no
Projeto de Restauro Arquitetônico: Análise do Caso Paulistano – Quatro Estudos de Casos.
p. 46.
9. Ata da 531ª Reunião Ordinária do Conpresp. p. 3
10. ":: Clerice :: Organização" (https://web.archive.org/web/20161123103321/http://rclerice.com.
br/organizacao.php). www.rclerice.com.br. Archived from the original (http://www.rclerice.co
m.br/organizacao.php) on 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
11. "die Söhne" (http://www.walcker.com/historie/die-soehne-1/index.html). www.walcker.com.
Retrieved 2016-11-23.
12. "A rota dos vitrais: as obras da Casa Conrado" (http://vejasp.abril.com.br/materia/a-rota-dos-
vitrais-as-obras-da-casa-conrado). Veja São Paulo.
13. Araújo, Cristiane (2007). Impressão do Espaço Sagrado: a centenária Igreja Evangélica de
Confissão Luterana em São Paulo. Âncora. pp. 25–26.
14. Donato, Hernâni (1993). Empresa das Artes (ed.). Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro: ponte
entre duas culturas 1878 – 1993. São Paulo. pp. 26–27.
15. Ata da Sessão Ordinária 1658ª do Condephaat. p. 46.[1] (http://www.cultura.sp.gov.br/SEC/
Condephaat/Pauta%201659tarde.pdf) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/201305120557
08/http://www.cultura.sp.gov.br/SEC/Condephaat/Pauta%201659tarde.pdf) 2013-05-12 at
the Wayback Machine
16. Ditolvo, Ana Marta (2011). Mestrado: Procedimentos Investigativos no Projeto de Restauro
Arquitetônico: Análise do Caso Paulistano – Quatro Estudos de Casos. Unicamp. p. 64.
17. "São Paulo viu pulverização evangélica na última década, mostra Censo 2010 – São Paulo
– Estadão" (http://sao-paulo.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,sao-paulo-viu-pulverizacao-evan
gelica-na-ultima-decada-mostra-censo-2010,897309). Estadão.
18. Luteranos, Portal. "Portal Luteranos | Portas abertas para as dores da rua" (http://www.lutera
nos.com.br/conteudo_organizacao/sao-paulo-centro/portas-abertas-para-as-dores-da-rua).
Portal Luteranos.
19. Chris Kitching (May 1, 2018). "Tower block in Brazil collapses leaving at least one dead after
massive fire tore through 26-storey building" (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/brea
king-tower-block-brazil-collapses-12458332). Daily Mirror. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
20. "Um ano após queda de prédio no Centro de SP, igreja atingida começa a ser reconstruída"
(https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2019/04/30/um-ano-apos-queda-de-predio-no-ce
ntro-de-sp-igreja-atingida-comeca-a-ser-reconstruida.ghtml) (in Portuguese). G1. 30 April
2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.

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