St. Gallus Zürich

St. Gallus in Zürich is the Roman Catholic parish church of Schwamendingen, a district in the city's north-east. Built in the 1950s, it stands out for its parabolic vault, a separate bell tower and a vast stained-glass wall behind the altar. It belongs to the Diocese of Chur.

What is this church and how did it come about?

Schwamendingen was an independent municipality until it joined Zürich in 1934. Only after the Second World War, as the district grew fast, did it get its own Catholic parish. A first chapel was consecrated on 22 October 1950 and the parish was founded in 1951. The present church was built between 1955 and 1957 to plans by architects Ferdinand Pfammatter and Walter Rieger. Bishop Christianus Caminada blessed it on 23 June 1957, and Bishop Johannes Vonderach performed the solemn consecration in 1969.

What will you see outside and inside?

The shape was inspired by the hangars of the military airfield at nearby Dübendorf. The nave has a parabolic cross-section with a ceiling about 16.5 m high. The interior is roughly 34.5 m long and almost 22 m wide, with space for several hundred people.

Next to the front stands a free-standing tower about 37.5 m tall. The city authorities refused a spot on the street, which is why it sits to the side. In 2012 it was reinforced against earthquakes and given a clock. Five bronze bells cast by H. Rüetschi in Aarau hang inside; they were blessed in May 1960. The heaviest weighs 4,100 kg, and their tuning was matched to the bells of the nearby Reformed church.

Highlights of the interior:

• a 1987 stained-glass window designed by Fra Roberto Pasotti, covering about 260 m² of the chancel wall,
• glass Stations of the Cross by Paul Monnier from 1958,
• carved wooden figures of St. Gallus, St. Anthony and Mary by Beat Gasser,
• an altar, ambo, tabernacle and font reworked by Albert Wider in 1969–70,
• a Späth organ from 1970 (36 stops, three manuals, 2,697 pipes),
• a crypt fitted out in 1971 on the lower level.

How do you get there?

The church is on busy Dübendorfstrasse in Schwamendingen, at about 47.402 N, 8.579 E. From central Zürich it is a short public-transport ride; check the local operator's app for current connections.

When is the best time to visit?

Come when the church is open or during a service. Daylight shows off the stained glass best, so a sunny hour is ideal. Mass times and organ concerts are listed on the parish website.

Frequently asked questions

When was St. Gallus in Zürich built?

Construction ran from 1955 to 1957. It was blessed in June 1957 and consecrated in 1969.

Who designed it?

The architects were Ferdinand Pfammatter and Walter Rieger.

Why is the tower separate from the church?

The city would not allow it on the street frontage, so it was placed beside the facade. It is about 37.5 m high.

What is architecturally distinctive?

The parabolic vault, modelled on airfield hangars, and the large 1987 stained-glass window in the chancel.