The case concerns the construction of the Syriac Orthodox Church of St. George in Ahlen, a major building project completed approximately four years ago at a reported cost of around €4 million. The church complex includes a community hall and residential accommodations for church personnel and serves members of the Assyrian community living across the wider Ostwestfalen region.
According to a report by Germany's WDR, the carpentry company Fuchs und Schwalbe was contracted to provide and install windows, doors, shutters and other woodwork for the project. The company says it supplied approximately 150 windows and carried out extensive installation work.
Wilfried Probst, a representative of the company, told WDR that the firm initially undertook the work enthusiastically and at what he described as favorable, almost “friendship” prices. However, he claims that while approximately 75 percent of the material costs were eventually paid, payments for installation work were delayed or remained unpaid.
The dispute appears to have developed amid problems during the construction of the church. According to Probst, measurements in the masonry did not correspond to the original plans when the windows were being installed. The project also experienced a change of architect, and additional work was reportedly required.
One point of contention involved the church's arched windows. Probst said the company was later told that some of the arches it had supplied were incorrect, requiring alterations to the surrounding masonry.
Although the construction issues have since disappeared from view with the completion of the church, the disagreement over responsibility and payment has continued for several years.
The St. George congregation disputes the allegations made by the carpentry company.
In a written response to WDR, the congregation described the company's claims as “false allegations” that do not correspond to the facts. The church did not provide WDR with an interview but responded to a detailed written questionnaire regarding the dispute.
The disagreement has reportedly involved repeated discussions between the company and the church leadership over the past four years. According to Probst, attempts to reach an agreement and conclude the matter without further escalation were unsuccessful.
The dispute is now before the Münster Regional Court. A conciliation hearing failed to resolve the case, and the amount in dispute has reportedly risen to more than €200,000 when interest is included. A further court hearing is expected, although no new date had been announced in the WDR report published on August 18.
A significant Assyrian presence in Ahlen
The legal dispute comes against the backdrop of a longstanding Assyrian presence in Ahlen.
The Assyrian community has maintained close ties with the city and its Christian institutions for decades. The former Catholic Church of St. Gottfried was also used by the community beginning in the 1980s. As the community grew, the need for additional worship space eventually contributed to the construction and development of dedicated facilities.
This article is based on reporting by Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), published August 18, 2026. The allegations described above remain disputed, and the court has not yet issued a final ruling.
Barseen Oshana
