No buyers for Steckelsdorf church: What happens to the church?

No buyers for Steckelsdorf church: What happens to the church?

Steckelsdorf, Deutschland - An unusual scenario recently took place in Steckelsdorf, a tranquil location in the Havelland. The Catholic Church there was offered for auction on June 27, 2025. But despite the 75 inquiries of interested buyers, there was no single bid. The minimum bid of 295,000 euros for the entrepreneurship and 6000 square meters of land, a church building and a rectory remained unmatched. Michael Plettner, board member of Deutsche Grundstücksauktions AG (DGA), comments on this phenomenon: "The reasons for the lack of a buyer are unclear; the price, the condition of the property or other factors may play a role".

The two buildings are in a decent condition, but urgently need renovations. The parish of Tangermünde with Steckelsdorf has been part of the parish of St. Anna in Stendal since January 1, 2025. The church has already been developed and the last service took place at the end of 2024. A dreary balance for the small community, which consists of around 20 people and has been holding their services in the Protestant parish hall since then.

The sale of the houses

The fate of the Catholic Church in Steckelsdorf is not isolated. In Germany, numerous churches will be for sale in the coming decades, many of them. In the past twenty years, the number of citizens that belong to one of the two major denominations has been reduced from three quarters to less than half. The reasons are clear: the use of the churches drops, and the financial means to preserve these historical buildings are often no longer available. The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) in 2023 reported 380,000 withdrawals, which underlines the need for austerity programs that are often based on the buildings. Pastor Mario Lukes says: "The sale is a logical step to avoid high maintenance costs".

The sale of churches and church real estate brings challenges. Certain uses of the buildings are excluded, such as brothels or arcades. The foundation stone must also be integrated into the new building when demolished. In Eschwege, three worshipers of a Catholic parish with prices between 50,000 and 220,000 euros are offered for sale. Projects such as the conversion of a former church to the climbing hall also show that creative post -use are possible, even if the financial aspects often play a major role.

marketplace for church real estate

For interested parties in church real estate there are now online platforms such as Kirchengrundstuecke.de , which are used by various parishes of the Evangelical Church in Germany. This website offers a wide range of church buildings, residential buildings and commercial space, and would like to bring both providers and interested parties together. If you are interested in the acquisition of such an object, you can request an order form and submit your request. The office is located in Magdeburg, where the Evangelical Church in Central Germany is based, and contact is easily made by phone or email.

The parish in Steckelsdorf is now in the after sale and is offered freehand. This phase, in which I hope to find a buyer, will last for two months. If no buyer is setting up during this time, a lower price or a second auction could possibly come into play. The challenge of preserving these walls with their history could be one of the largest exams for the local community.