The Stimson Memorial Chapel has served as a center point to improve American-German relations after the devastation of World War II. Now, it is the home to a wide number of international congregations, including the APC.

Allied High Commissions governed Germany following the military occupation at the end of World War II.

On May 3, 1949 the Federal Republic of Germany was created from the three western occupation zones and the newly elected Parliament (Bundestag) decided in a close vote to establish the "provisional" seat of government in Bonn.

The American High Commission for Germany (known as HICOG) was at the time located in Frankfurt.

Due to a shortage of housing in the Bonn area, the HICOG was required to construct new housing for approximately 400 American employees and 800 Germans with their families.

An 80acre (32 hectares) parcel of farmland and orchards was purchased from the von Carstanjen family in Bonn-Plittersdorf. This construction began in February 1951 and was completed in the summer of 1952.

The housing area included 440 apartments, a shopping center, movie theater, school, club, gymnasium with swimming pool and a chapel, which was built in the style of 18th century churches in colonial New England.

The HICOG moved to Bonn in 1952, and High Commissioner John J. McCloy dedicated the chapel on 18 July 1952. Mr. McCloy decided to dedicate the chapel to the memory of his World War II superior, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who had died in 1950.

Secretary Stimson was a highly respected public servant, who had served under seven presidents dating back to President Theodore Roosevelt at the turn of the 20th century. Stimson served in many posts including Secretary of War under President Howard Taft, Colonel of the artillery during World War I, Governor of the Philippines and Secretary of State under President Herbert Hoover.

In 1940 President Franklin D. Roosevelt called Henry Stimson at age 73 to serve again as Secretary of War, a cabinet post which preceded the position of Secretary of Defense. Stimson organized the recruitment and training of an army of more than 16 million soldiers during World War II.

In 1944 Stimson was asked by President Roosevelt to join a cabinet-level committee to develop a plan for post-war Germany after the anticipated collapse of the Nazi regime. Several plans were presented, including the infamous Morgenthau Plan, named for Secretary of Treasury Morgenthau, who proposed that German industry be dismantled and Germany be converted to an agrarian society.

Henry Stimson almost single-handedly opposed the Morgenthau Plan and proposed instead in a 1944 memorandum to President Roosevelt that the defeated Germans be given an opportunity to reconstruct their country and develop democratic institutions.

Henry Stimson was thus the forerunner of George Marshall, who in 1947 as Secretary of State proposed the now famous Marshall Plan through which the American government provided billions of dollars to assist Europe to recover from the devastation of the war. The U.S. government also decided to include defeated Germany in this plan and the result was the creation of a new Germany with a strong industrial base and a democratic constitution (Grundgesetz).

Today Germany is a stable democracy, has the third largest economy in the world and is a loyal ally of the United States in world affairs. In the vestibule of the Chapel is a bronze bust of Henry L. Stimson donated by his widow.

In 1956 the Stimson Chapel became the official chapel of the American Embassy, which succeeded the American High Commission for Germany. The chapel served not only the Protestant and Catholic worshipers from the families of the American Embassy, but also
opened its doors to all English-speaking worshipers residing in the Bonn area.

This included nationals from the foreign embassies or residing in the area, as well as an increasing number of German citizens. They were attracted to the American style of worship and church community life, which includes a strong youth program, community outreach and support of Christian missionary activities in many parts of the world.

This multi-national participation has continued to the present. Throughout the 50 years of its existence citizens of more than 40 nations have participated in the religious and community activities of Stimson Memorial Chapel.

The dramatic international developments of the fall of 1989 led to the reunification of Germany on October 1, 1990 after 45 years of division. On June 20, 1991 in a close vote (338-320) the German parliament decided to move the capital from Bonn to Berlin.

This meant that the American Embassy also would move to Berlin. During the succeeding years the American Embassy sold the housing area in Bonn-Plittersdorf and all of its property in Bonn except for the Stimson Memorial Chapel.

On June 20, 1999 while visiting Germany to attend an international G-8 Summit Meeting in Cologne President William J. Clinton came to Bonn and officially turned over the keys of the Stimson Memorial Chapel to Bonn Lord Mayor Barbara Dieckmann. The U.S. government had decided to give the chapel to the city of Bonn as a gift and symbol of post-war German-American friendship.

After 47 years in Bonn the American Embassy officially moved to Berlin on July 1, 1999. With the departure of the American Embassy a substantial number of active members of the Protestant and Catholic congregations remained in the Bonn area and were anxious to
continue worshipping in the chapel. The two congregations therefore formed a "Förderverein Stimson Memorial Chapel e.V." to foster continued use of the chapel after ownership was transferred to the city of Bonn. The "Förderverein" signed a Usage Agreement with the city of Bonn, which designated the "Förderverein" as the responsible association for the management of the Stimson Memorial Chapel and surrounding property.

In the meantime two additional congregations of worshipers from Korea and Sri Lanka now also use the chapel. Contributions from the four congregations contribute to the support of the chapel.

The "Förderverein" also signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense, which also makes the chapel available to the families of American military personnel, who remain in Bonn and are accredited to the German Ministry of Defense. At present more than 20 religious and community related organizations use the chapel facilities regularly.

Choir, individual soloists and instrumental music presentations enrich the Sunday worship services and community outreach. After 50 years of existence the Stimson Memorial Chapel remains a symbol of former American official presence in Bonn and the lasting friendship between the American and German people.

The present religious programs of the four congregations guarantee that the Stimson Memorial Chapel will continue for the foreseeable future to serve international worshipers from more than 40 nations through Sunday worship services, youth programs, music, Bible study and other community activities.

An American Giant Redwood tree has been planted on the chapel grounds as a further symbol of American-German friendship. On August 14, 2000 the Historical Monument Office of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia officially registered the Stimson Memorial Chapel on the list of historical monuments of the City of Bonn.

by Arthur Stimson
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