St Ursula's Church

St Ursula's Church in Bern is a small Anglican church at Jubiläumsplatz 2 in the Kirchenfeld district, on the eastern bank of the Aare. It was built in the early 1900s for the city's English-speaking community and still serves as a parish of the Anglican Diocese in Europe.

What is St Ursula's Church?

Despite the name, this is not a Catholic church. Its architects were Eduard Rybi and Ernst Salchli, who designed Bern's synagogue the same year. Construction took only a few months, and the Bishop of Fulham, Thomas Wilkinson, consecrated the building on 20 September 1906. Among the guests were Ludwig Forrer, President of the Swiss Confederation, and the British minister Sir George Bonham. The church was planned to seat around one hundred people.

The British-Berne Land Company donated the plot as it developed the Kirchenfeld area. Most of the building funds came from an American donor, Mrs Castleman of St Louis, who gave them as thanks after her adopted daughter recovered under the care of Professor Kocher.

What will you see inside?

The church is modest and intimate. Look for the heavy altar cross, given in 1881 and still in use, and the east window, dedicated in 1911 in memory of Cecil Bonham. The bell was cast in Aarau by the Rüetschi firm in 1918 and paid for by a dedicated bell fund. The organ was badly damaged in a fire on 22 September 1976, after a heater was left on following an evening service.

A hall and parish house were added later. The 1959 works were finished in January 1960, and the hall was enlarged in 1992-94.

How do you get to St Ursula's Church?

From the old town it is about a 20-minute walk. By tram, take line 7 (towards Ostring) or line 8 (towards Saali) to Luisenstrasse, then walk about three minutes along Luisenstrasse. From Gümligen and Muri, line 6 also stops at Luisenstrasse.

By car, leave the A6 at Ostring and head towards the centre. At Thunplatz turn right onto Kirchenfeldstrasse, and after about 300 metres the church is on your left. It is a blue parking zone: street parking is free on Sundays, while on weekdays you need a parking disc.

When should you visit?

Sunday is the best day. The main service is at 10:00 in English, and about 80 people or more attend most weeks. Outside service hours the church is not a standard sightseeing stop, so check the parish website for current opening arrangements.

Frequently asked questions

Is St Ursula's Church Catholic? No. It is an Anglican parish within the Diocese in Europe.

What language are the services in? English. The main Sunday service starts at 10:00.

When was the church built? In 1906, and it was consecrated on 20 September of that year.

How do I get there from central Bern? Take tram 7 or 8 to Luisenstrasse, then walk about three minutes.