Introduction to St. Paul's Church: Frankfurt St. Paul's Church (Paulskirche) was built in 1789 and completed in 1833. It is an important political symbol in Germany. It is an oval-shaped Protestant church that, due to its centralized shape, was the seat of the Frankfurt National Assembly in 1848-1849. Although it was basically destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt after the war because it was a symbol of freedom and the cradle of Germany. In 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave a speech here during his visit to Germany.