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The Mannheim Jesuit Church was built in the years 1733 to 1760 under the Electors Carl-Philipp and Carl-Theodor of the Palatinate. The plans for the ecclesiastical building were modelled upon the mother-church Al Gesu in Rome and were designed by the architect Allessandro Galli da Bibiena from Bologna. The foundation stone was laid in 1733, the topping-out ceremony was celebrated in 1748 and in 1760 the prince-bishop Joseph von Augsburg consecrated the church, which is over 100 metres long and can hold up to 3,000 people, in the presence of the electoral court. According to the foundation deed of 1728, the "Patribus of the Societas Jesu" - the Jesuits - were supposed to be the owners of the then Great Court Church for "all time", but only 13 years after the consecration Pope Clement XIV. abolished the order of the Jesuits.
The interior design is characterised by the transition from late baroque to classicism. The high altar (20 metres high) as well as the six side altars exhibit an early classicist architectural style. The original baroque concept by the court sculptor Johann Paul Egell was completely transformed into the emerging classicist style by his successor, the Flemish Peter Anton von Verschaffelt.
The decoration of the interior of the church was entrusted to Egid Quirin Asam from Munich. The crossing dome of the Mannheim Jesuit Church was covered with scenes taken from the life of the founder of the order, Ignatius of Loyola. While the roof of the nave was decorated with a 400 square metre large fresco, the contents of which was related to the subject of the high altar, namely the missionary journey of Saint Francis-Xavier to India. Large parts of the Jesuit Church were destroyed during World War II. The high altar, the princes' pews, the pulpit and all the Asam frescos were completely destroyed. Restoration already began in 1945, but the entire church was only opened to the public again in 1960.
During the years 1988 to 1997 a reconstruction of the baroque high altar was completed, as well as the electoral court pews, also called oratorios. A complete renovation of the church interior has yet to be undertaken.
Address: Jesuitenkirche A 4 68159 Mannheim Tel.: (Pfarramt A 4,2) 2 38 41 u. 1 27 09-0 Fax: 1 27 09-66
