The church is first mentioned in 1209, when its masonry survived that year's city fire. Johannes Rumeschottel of Rostock supervised the sanctuary, begun in 1408 and dedicated in 1419, and the older nave was rebuilt from 1456 to 1466. The 1470s joined the two into a three-aisled Gothic basilica. The infobox gives its size as 259 by 114 feet (78.8 by 34.9 m) and 98 feet (30 m) high.
Jacob Josten designed a new tower and western facade from 1671, and Rupert Bindenschu finished the tower and designed the steeple built after 1688. A lightning fire led to rebuilding from 1721, with a new steeple completed in 1746.
Artillery destroyed the church on June 29, 1941, and restoration began in 1954, with interior work ending in 1984. A lift takes visitors to a viewing point 236 feet (72 m) high.
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