The Franciscan monastery Halberstadt with St. Andrew's Church are located in the middle of the old town of Halberstadt, just a few meters east of St. John's Church, on the edge of the old market settlement.
The first Franciscan Minorites came to Halberstadt in 1223 and founded one of their first branches in Germany. The Franciscan monastery Halberstadt was founded in 1289 by the Counts of Regenstein, still in the lifetime of St. Francis. Around 1300 they built the St. Andrew's Church as a three-aisled hall church. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Franciscans left Halberstadt after almost 600 years as a result of secularization and did not return until 1920.
On April 8, 1945, the monastery and church were destroyed by a bombing raid. In 1952, the foundation stone was laid for the new monastery building, after which Franciscans moved back into the monastery, which still today perform the parish service. In 1982, the inauguration of the rebuilt in the style of the 14th century church. The exterior of the choir, with its narrow tall windows between the buttresses, is the same as its original state, but all the tracery forms are new.
The interior of the church is impressive and elegant with its chancel with ribbed vaults resting on intercepted services. The significant modern glass painter Carl Crodel has characteristically designed the circular central windows of the windows.
The equipment of the Andreaskirche, despite its destruction in 1945, is again rich and of high quality. The large gothic carved altar comes from the Halberstadt Moritzkirche and shows the coronation of Mary in the center. Numerous other impressive works adorn the choir - especially the newly built chapel on the south side. Noteworthy is an almost life-sized alabaster Madonna from the 15th century, which was damaged during the bombing attack, after careful restoration but again exudes old splendor.
Unfortunately, the choir and chapel of St. Andrew's Church can only be visited by prior appointment.