Probable Arson Severely Damaged Germany’s Largest Wooden Church.

In the early hours of Sunday, July 20, 2025, fire broke out in the historic Marktkirche zum Heiligen Geist in Clausthal‑Zellerfeld—the largest wooden church in Germany, and a national cultural monument since 2005.

The Incident

At approximately 00:40 a.m., the historic church’s integrated alarm system triggered, alerting the Goslar fire brigade to flames blazing along the east facade, from the ground up to beneath the roof overhang. Over 100 personnel from multiple fire departments—including Clausthal‑Zellerfeld, Altenau, Wildemann, Buntenbock, and Schulenberg—joined forces with rescue services, police, and DRK to battle the blaze for several intense hours. Despite the severity of the fire, fortunately no injuries were reported.

Thanks to the early detection by the fire alarm and rapid coordinated response, the damage was contained largely to the east façade and roof structure, averting a full conflagration of the timber structure.

Possible Arson Under Investigation

Authorities have launched an investigation into suspected arson. A suspect was briefly detained but released due to insufficient evidence. An expert inspection has been scheduled to assess both the cause and the structural impact.

The Church & Its Significance

The Marktkirche was built between 1639 and 1642, following a devastating town fire in 1634 that destroyed Clausthal’s previous church and much of the city. Constructed entirely of oak and spruce, with 56 tons of timber in the tower, the church once held up to 2,200 worshippers and is Europe’s second-largest preserved wooden church after Kerimäki in Finland. Following restoration between 2011 and 2019, it regained its vibrant blue exterior paint, symbolic of divine wisdom and historical authenticity.