Facilities and features
Accessibility
We aim to be inclusive and ecumenical in approach and practice.
Portable ramp
16 or 17 bus to Michaeliskirche bus stop
16, 17 or 12 bus to U St.Pauli bus stop
U3 to St.Pauli. Cross Millerntorplatz, turn left and walk along the park. Zeughausmarkt first right, opposite Holstenwall.
S1 or S3 to Landungsbrücken. Leave by Hafentor exit, ascend Kuhberg, turn left and cross Venusberg, right turn into Neumayerstrasse. Zeughausmarkt is at the end.
Drop-off in front of the church
We welcome all well-behaved dogs, not only assistance dogs.
There is a paid-for public car park in front of the church.
There is a baby changing facility in the West Room next to the toilets.
Our Building
There has been an English Church in Hamburg since 1612. The current building is in the neoclassical style and was consecrated on 11 November 1838. The name St Thomas à Becket, the patron saint of the Merchant Adventurers, was given to the church when it reopened in 1947 following post-war restoration.
There are two single toilets but the doors and access are narrow.
We have a second-hand English bookshop on the south gallery (honesty box).
Music and Worship
There is usually live music during all our services, either from the Sunday Choir, our Anglican Consort, or instrumentalists. For details of concerts by us or visiting musicians, please see our website.
Our organ, built by Johann Gottlieb Wolfsteller in 1837-8 and including some pipework from an older organ in the Merchant Adventurers' chapel, has 23 stops, approximately 1,300 pipes, two manuals and pedals. Its most recent overhaul was in 1998.
We usually hold Choral Evensong once a month. Please see our website for details.
Our enthusiastic singing congregation is supported by our Sunday choir during the Sunday Eucharist, and during special services in Holy Week and Advent/Christmas and other feast days. All are welcome to join Sunday Choir with the only participation requirements being an enthusiasm for singing and a willingness to turn up to choir practice an hour before the Sunday service.
Groups, Courses and Activities
Becket Mix is for young people aged 13 upwards. Activities focus on three tenets: service to church (e.g. reading the Passion Play or running the cafe at the bazaar); service to the community (e.g. raising funds for a homeless charity); and having fun and building social relationships with one another (e.g. bowling and cooking together).
Most Sundays in school term time Junior Church is held in a small room within the church building during the service. Children of school age are eligible to attend. From age 13 they may join Becket Mix.
Help for Visitors
We are happy to arrange tours for groups on request.
We welcome all well-behaved dogs.