Weitmar-Mark and -Neuling, southern parts of the city of Bochum, grew in the mining age (Carl Friedrich Erbstollen and Prinz Regent mines). However, churches were not built here until after the Second World War. The priest August Halbe, a Russian prisoner of war until 1949, was appointed vicar of the Franciscan church in Bochum-Weitmar in 1950. He was assigned the Mark/Neuling district. From 1955 onwards, a church was planned in this district, and plans quickly matured to plan and design the church as a place of remembrance and thanksgiving for war veterans. From 1956 onwards there was a church building association, and the first spade was turned by former Russian prisoners of war after a prayer service at the pilgrimage site of Stiepel in March 1958. The consecration by the bishop of the newly founded diocese of Essen, Franz Hengsbach, took place on December 12th, 1959. The plans were provided by Dr.-Ing. Kurt Hubert Vieth (+1993). Vieth left a significant mark in Bochum, as he was responsible for the reorganization plan for the rebuilt inner city of Bochum from 1947 to 1949. His reconstruction of St. Mary's Church and the Redemptorist monastery and church (demolished) are/were influential. He designed the Dankeskirche as a reminiscence of camp barracks. The imposing but also very simple building should really be mentioned in the same breath as the Frauenfriedenskirche in Frankfurt and Maria Regina Martyrum in Berlin. Unfortunately, the planned bell tower, which was certainly important in terms of urban development, was not built. Overall, the church has little presence in the cityscape - and despite its commemorative character, it was perhaps too much of a parish church. Gratitude to God for a safe return home from captivity is expressed above all in the crypt. It is the actual memorial for those returning home. Pieces from the captivity are shown here together with corresponding art of the time and pieces from the associations (flags, etc.). The crypt was expanded in 1986 and most recently renovated and redesigned in 2016/17 with conservation in mind. A place that is both oppressive and comforting. The great era of the annual celebration of the returnees' thanksgiving days on Trinity Sunday (1960-2009) is now over. But the church, with its actually very serious design, also reminds us of the suffering of the prisoners of war. The room is characterized above all by the window cycle of the "War Road" designed by Wilhelm de Graaff. The parish of the Holy Family existed as a rectory parish from 1960 to 2008, and since then the church has had the status of a branch church. In the future concept, it is one of the churches that will no longer receive church tax funds for maintenance from 2030 at the latest. Community life and regular use will therefore come to a standstill here. However, this special memorial, a "stone prayer of thanks", must be preserved in some form. Since the large bell tower was not built, only a small bell has rung from the pointed roof turret. At first it was a steel bell from the Bochum association. This bell was exchanged in 1996 for a bell with the strike tone b'', probably from the Petit & Gebr Edelbrock foundry in Gescher. No further data on the bell is available. Due to the architectural situation, the thin song cannot be heard in direct sound anywhere around the church, but the bell may be reminiscent of bell sounds from afar, heard in prison camps. In the second part, an attempt will be made to give the Homecoming Thanksgiving Church a possible sound using the partial chime h° d' e' (V7, heavy major rib, heavy V7) of the Christ-König Church in Bochum. This solemn and serious chime would have been appropriate, although there could have been other variants. Well, that is speculation and fantasy - it will be difficult enough to lead this memorial site, which is unique in Germany, into the future. Photo of the Holy Family: September 14, 2024 (ringing of bells for the service). Photo of Christ the King: March 10, 2002. Illustration of the architect's watercolor (detail): taken from source 1. Black and white illustration: postcard, Hans Storms art publishers, Mönchengladbach. All other photos are of our own provenance. Sources/literature used: see 1., highlighted comment.