The brightly coloured stained-glass windows are the work of the French artist Alfred Manessier.

[1] Already bishop Willerich, in late 9th century, had built a third church beside the cathedral and the tomb chapel for his predecessor Willehad.

[2] But the first church definitely on the actual ground was built by archbishop Unwan (ruling 1013 to 1029) and dedicated to Saint Vitus.

At about 1343 (d), the nave was enlarged by addition of a second southern aisle, of the same width and height as the older vessels.

In the 1860s, the additional vessel was cut off by Gothic Revival windows, and it was divided into a ground flour with small rooms and the Christophorus-Saal (St Christopher's hall) in the upper storey (with high Gothic Revival windows).

In 1924, the ground flour of the northern tower was converted into a war memorial – which was re-designed in pacifist purpose, recently.

When the new organ was installed in 1953, the acoustics were so poor that in 1958 the city assigned Dieter Oesterlen to manage the church's refurbishment.

The residual medieval plastering and the remains of the frescos were removed, leaving plain brick walls.

In 1966, the French artist Alfred Manessier was charged with redesigning the 19 windows that had been destroyed during the Second World War.

Inspired by verses from the Bible, he embarked first on the design of the four main windows, employing brightly coloured stained glass representations with expressive linear patterns.

It shows the Prussian field marshal Helmut Graf von Moltke and was donated by the banker Bernhard Loose from Bremen, who already died on 31 March 1902.

Like the sculpture itself, the inscription above it expresses the militarism of the period:"He who armed and protected you consider this, when you approach him: Peace has to be supported by the sword if you remain silent, the evil deed will grow."