St. Lawrence Church

Fact Sheet

Up to 1,500 people fit into St. Lawrence Church. Around 70,000 visitors come each month to be amazed by the church and its many art treasures and to take part in worship services, tours and the like. Almost all the artworks are originals from the late Middle Ages and were created here in Nuremberg. During World War II, the citizens of Nuremberg moved all of the artworks including the stained-glass windows into the underground Art Bunker so that they could survive the war intact.

“St. Lawrence is the church of the people of Nuremberg. It is more than just a place of Christian belief, but also where those from Nuremberg feel secure and come together and where guests from all over the world and of all faiths are welcome.” Claudia Voigt-Grabenstein, the head pastor of St. Lawrence, has taken on the challenge of shaping the church into something fresher and more modern while, at the same time, preserving older religious traditions. “I don’t want to shut the door in anyone’s face, but also not snub anyone. That sometime creates a certain ambivalence, which has to be overcome. But that is exactly what makes it so exciting for me. I like to try new things. And sometimes it has to be a little crazy!”

Actually, Claudia Voigt-Grabenstein didn’t originally want to apply for the position of head pastor at St. Lawrence. “I simply didn’t trust myself. The position is unbelievably comprehensive and there is so much more to do than being ‘only’ a pastor and holding worship services. Leading St. Lawrence is like running a large corporation.” Ten years later she is still happy that she did decide to take this step: “This is MY place.”

Claudia Voigt Grabenstein was always interested in religion, but at first didn’t consider a career as pastor.