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)

SYDNEY (AP) — Retired Sydney radio broadcaster and former Australian national rugby coach Alan Jones was charged Monday with multiple sex crimes against males over two decades, police said.

The 83-year-old will appear in a Sydney court on Dec. 18 on 24 charges relating to eight alleged victims from 2001 to 2019, Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said the youngest of the alleged victims was 17 when the first offense allegedly occurred.

“In regards to the victims, we will allege that the accused knew some of them personally, some of them professionally. And we’ll also allege that some of the victims when the alleged offense took place, was the first time that they ever met the accused,” Fitzgerald told reporters.

Jones’ lawyer Bryan Wrench did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jones was arrested Monday morning at his Sydney waterfront apartment and made no comment to media when he left a police station late Monday.

Jones hosted a popular Sydney breakfast radio from 2002 until he retired in 2020. He was regarded as one of the most power people in Australian media.

He was also a successful coach of the Australian national rugby team, the Wallabies, for four years from early 1984. The team won 86 of their 102 matches under his leadership.

Jones was also influential in conservative politics and was a speechwriter for Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Fraser was in power from 1975 until 1983. Fraser died in 2015.

Police set up a strike force to investigate Jones after The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported in December last year allegations that Jones used his position of power, first as a school teacher and later as a popular broadcaster, to prey on a number of young men.

The charges include 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault and nine counts of assault with an act of indecency. There were also two charges of sexual touching and two charges of common assault.

Retired Sydney broadcaster and former Australian national rugby coach Alan Jones arrives for the funeral service for Helena Carr at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 14, 2023. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)

Retired Sydney broadcaster and former Australian national rugby coach Alan Jones is seen in the back of an unmarked police car as he is transferred to Day St Police Station in Sydney, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)

Retired Sydney broadcaster and former Australian national rugby coach Alan Jones, centre, walks past waiting media as he leaves a police station in Sydney, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)