Kirche an der Kempkenstraße

In the location's words:

The Kempkenstraße Protestant Church was built in 1905/06 according to plans by Mülheim architect Heinrich Heidsiek on an open field, which at the time still belonged to the parish of Hiesfeld in the Ruhrort district.

In 1917, the municipality of Hiesfeld was divided between the towns of Dinslaken and Sterkrade, with the southern part - today's Schmachtendorf - falling to the town of Sterkrade.

In 1917, Kempkenstraße was also given its current name, named after the Kempken family farm to which the property originally belonged.
The first church service took place on Sunday, September 30, 1906 for Harvest Thanksgiving.

During the Second World War, all but one of the remaining bronze bells were melted down for the armaments industry and the church was severely damaged by a hurricane in September 1940 and the subsequent effects of the war. After the war, reconstruction began with great participation from the people of Schmachtendorf, during which the church was given its characteristic tower and, in 1953, the round window.

Also in 1953, the new bells "I am the way" (́dis), "I am the truth" (`fis) and "I am the life" (́gis) were installed in the tower, which can still be heard today as the traditional chimes of the day.

The interior of the church was redesigned in the 1950s and 1970s, and in 1991 the artist Otto Wesendonck donated the bronze chandelier in the altar area.

When the parish leadership's desire to demolish the church became public in 2015, a citizens' initiative collected around 1,600 signatures against the demolition and in favor of its being placed under protection.
The church and vicarage have been listed since spring 2016.

The last church service took place in April 2019, since when the church has been used as an event venue by the "Verein Kirche Schmachtendorf e.V." association.