Only seven years after the great fire, the Gothic church was rebuilt by architects Alexis de Chateauneuf and Hermann Peter Fersenfeldt in its previous location.

In 1878, the 132 meter high church tower — its copper spire designed years earlier by Johann Hermann Maack [de] — was finished.

In the first half of the 20th century, the parish lost many members, as residential neighborhoods were torn down to develop banks and department stores in the city center.

From 2005 to 2007, the west and south facades of the church were hung with giant posters advertising the H&M chain of clothing stores, thus providing funding for maintenance of the cathedral.

A column in the choir area contains a statue by Bernt Notke, from around 1480–1483, showing Archbishop Ansgar and the Hamburg Marienkirche, which he founded.

A modern bronze sculpture by Fritz Fleer shows Dietrich Bonhoeffer dressed as a convict with his hands bound.