Christ König

An open roof truss spans the interior, a recurring feature in Fritz Schaller's buildings. Four V-shaped timber trusses support the structure and divide the space into three naves. They are meant to evoke the stable of Bethlehem, which is how the church came to be popularly known as the Christmas Church.

The church features a red brick façade and a gable roof that slopes down asymmetrically on one side. The outward-curving apse to the east recalls the style of early Christian basilicas, while the baptismal chapel in the southwest projects beyond the main wall line. The organ gallery at the main entrance was added later, based on Schaller's own designs.

The altar, tabernacle base, and pulpit were created by Cologne sculptor Elmar Hillebrand after designs by Fritz Schaller; the oval font of shell limestone with its carved oak lid was Hillebrand's own design. The hanging altar cross from 1951 is the work of Hildegard Domizlaff. The Stations of the Cross, hand-embroidered in colored wool thread on linen, were restored in 1977 after fire damage. A violet passion cloth depicts the instruments of Christ's suffering.

Except for the chancel window, the leaded-glass windows date to 1952 and are the work of Ludwig Schaffrath; the nave features ornamental designs, while the rear window shows Christ the King above the symbols of the four evangelists. The chancel window, depicting a laurel wreath and a shell, was created around 1980 by an unknown artist.

Construction cost 130,000 German marks. City dean Robert Grosche laid the foundation stone on 24 May 1951, and auxiliary bishop Josef Ferche consecrated the church on 1 May 1952. Following years of cooperation, the parish councils of Christ König and St. Bernhard decided in autumn 2002 to merge; the two congregations united on 1 January 2004, with Christ König becoming their shared parish church. This marked an early step in the restructuring demanded by the Archdiocese of Cologne for the Cologne-Longerich pastoral area. With the further merger with St. Dionysius on 1 January 2010, Christ König became a subsidiary church; the resulting parish now also includes St. Bernhard and the Marienkirche in Cologne-Lindweiler.