This German church is the tallest in the world. Until Spain's La Sagrada Familia is done, anyway

ULM, Germany (AP) — The Ulmer Münster in southern Germany is the world's tallest church. For now, anyway.

The Gothic-style Lutheran church's reign — begun in May 31, 1890 — could end in 2025, when La Sagrada Familia Basilica's “Tower of Jesus Christ” in Spain is set to be completed. At an eventual 172.5 meters (about 566 feet) high, the Catholic basilica in Barcelona should inch out the Ulmer Münster by a mere 11 meters (36 feet).

But La Sagrada Familia 's construction has taken 142 years and counting. The ultimate completion could come in 2026, 100 years since the death of the original Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí. Ironically, when the basilica reaches its final height, it will be thanks to a 17-meter (55.77-foot) cross that was made by a German company.

Still, the Ulmer Münster's lead pastor isn't upset.

“I don’t find it all that fascinating that it is the highest church tower in the world," Dean Torsten Krannich told The Associated Press. "The church also lifts my heart up to God. This is simply a wonderful church that invites you to pray and be thankful.”

After all, Ulm will always have Albert Einstein. The physicist was born there in 1879 and lived in Ulm for the first 15 months of his life. His extended family remained, and he returned and climbed the church's tower in 1923.

In addition to a stained glass window inside the Ulmer Münster that features Einstein and other famous scientists, the head of communications for Ulm's tourism board is quick to point out that the rest of the city has “a very high density of art and culture.”

“We can inspire the guests who come here even when we no longer have the highest church in the world, but only have the second-highest,” Dirk Homburg said.

The Ulmer Münster's history dates to 1377, when Ulm's citizens decided to demolish their old parish church. Located outside the city gates, it could be a perilous trek for congregants during the frequent wars of the Middle Ages. The residents chose to finance the building of a new one in the city's center themselves, and planned for it to have the highest spire in the world.

Construction paused in 1543 when, in the wake of the Protestant Reformation, the city's leaders decided to stop the work amid political and economic turbulence. Building resumed in 1844 and by May 31, 1890, the church was complete.

Reaching a record 161.5 meters (530 feet) high, the Ulmer Münster was built deliberately to be taller than the Cologne Cathedral in northwest Germany — which topped out at 157.2 meters (516 feet) in 1880.

Although Ulm was destroyed by a World War II bombing raid in 1944, the church itself remained upright. But the Ulmer Münster’s age, as well as weather impacts and some 1 million annual visitors, mean that construction and restoration occur constantly amid tourism and religious services.

For example, visitors can currently climb 560 stairs to the viewing platform at 102 meters (335 feet). The platform at 143 meters (469 feet) — 768 stairs — is closed due to stairwell repairs.

Krannich said it remains special regardless.

“Whether the tower is now 5 meters (16.4 feet) higher or 5 meters lower, it doesn’t matter to the quality of this church,” he said.

Ursula Heckler, a two-time visitor to the church, said she initially journeyed to Ulm in 2019 because she, like many others who trek there, knew it was the world’s tallest. She doesn't plan to visit La Sagrada Familia when it takes over.

Christos Kalokerinos, a native Ulmer, is unruffled by the looming loss of status.

“There are so many other nice things about the Münster that it’s not really relevant," he said. "I think most people think that way, too. But of course it was also great to brag a bit about the fact that we have the highest church tower — because many, many people don’t necessarily know Ulm that way.”

Indeed, there are few indications of the record in the city. The gift shop inside the church just has a fake fireplace labeled “the world's tallest church,” and the only reference in a tourism store across the street appeared to be a postcard stacking the church's height up against the Great Pyramid of Giza, Big Ben and the Statue of Liberty. All are shorter than the Ulmer Münster.

Apparently the region's residents, known as Swabians, “prefer understatement.”

“They don’t want to tell everyone that they’re the greatest,” Krannich said. “Not everyone needs to know. It’s enough if we know it.”

But next year?

“We're going to involve Albert Einstein a bit more in our marketing,” Homburg said.

AP journalist Kirsten Grieshaber contributed to this report.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Interior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Exterior view of Ulmer Münster, the world's tallest church, in Ulm, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried and San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove exited early because of injuries Wednesday night in Game 2 of their NL Wild Card Series.

Fried, who can become a free agent after the World Series, was done after two innings in what could be his final start for Atlanta. He was hit on his left hip by a comebacker from Fernando Tatis Jr. two batters into his outing.

Fried stayed in and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first, but then allowed five runs on six straight hits with two outs in the second.

“It was his hip,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “As the inning wore on it affected him. The longer he was out there, the worse he got.”

Dylan Lee took over to begin the third inning, but the damage was done. Atlanta's comeback fell short and the banged-up Braves were eliminated as the Padres completed a two-game sweep with a 5-4 victory.

Musgrove threw two slow curveballs to fall behind 2-1 on Matt Olson with two outs in the fourth and was visited by pitching coach Ruben Niebla. Padres manager Mike Shildt and an athletic trainer joined them, and Musgrove came out.

The team announced he had right elbow tightness.

Musgrove said it was “frustrating. I want to be out there and finish the job. This is the last thing I want in my first postseason outing, but that’s just the reality of it. It’s coming at a bad time, but I’ll address it, I’ll find the best possible path to get back and do my best to get back here as soon as I can.”

Musgrove participated in both the on-field celebration and the wild clubhouse party afterward. His status for the remainder of the postseason is unclear, including the best-of-five Division Series against the rival Dodgers that begins Saturday in Los Angeles.

“If you’re not a pitcher, it’s very difficult to explain. I just had a hard time getting to full extension and letting pitches go,” Musgrove said. “There wasn’t a whole lot of confidence behind it. I had two outs in the inning. I was hoping to be able to get through the inning and then address it in between, but I didn’t make it to that point.”

Musgrove, who grew up in suburban El Cajon, had two stints on the injured list with right elbow inflammation this season, costing him a total of 63 games. His second stint sidelined him for 2 1/2 months.

“It would be irresponsible to get too deep into this,” Shildt said. “He said he was going to do everything he can — I put nothing past Joe Musgrove — to be able to come back.

“Something just didn’t feel right in his elbow. Structurally they feel it is OK, but we’ll get more evaluations as we go.”

Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in Padres history on April 9, 2021, in his second start with his hometown team after being obtained in an offseason trade with Pittsburgh.

Fried was a first-round draft pick of the Padres in 2012. He was traded to Atlanta in a six-player deal in December 2014. He made his big league on Aug. 8, 2017. He started and won the clinching Game 6 of the 2021 World Series against Houston.

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San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove throws to an Atlanta Braves batter during the first inning in Game 2 of an NL Wild Card Series baseball game Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove exits the game during the fourth inning in Game 2 of an NL Wild Card Series baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried throws to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning in Game 2 of an NL Wild Card Series baseball game Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)