The late Baroque church was built from 1765 and consecrated in 1771. It is a foundation of the brothers Everhard Anton and Franz Jacob Gabriel von Groote.
Image credit: Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln
Sander, August; Cologne as it was, Cologne, 1920/1939, Cologne City Museum (Cologne)Image credit: Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln · Image source · Image credit
Since the 14th century there was a so-called misery cemetery in its place. This is called the place where mainly strangers (especially pilgrims), homeless, poor (= misery) were buried. Likewise, this was the final resting place for the dishonorable, i.e. suicides, executed or “non-Catholic” dead (as they were called from the 16th century).
The family of Groote had fled from Ghent to Cologne via Antwerp around 1580, and she was persecuted in the southern Netherlands because of her Catholic faith. So she could understand the fate of the “honourless” well.
Image credit: Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln
Photo: © Rheinisches Bildarchiv Sander, August; Cologne as it was, Cologne, 1920/1939, Kölnisches Stadtmuseum (Cologne)Image credit: Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln · Image source · Image credit
St. Gregorius was the last sacred building in Cologne before the invasion of the French and the end of the imperial period in 1794. In World War II, only the outer walls remained.
From 1952/53 it was rebuilt under the direction of the architect Karl Band until 1967. Band also cultivated the Schoenstatt Chapel. In the former residence of the family of Groote (the "Schönstatthaus") lived the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and maintained the site for years.
Karl Band belonged to the circle of the “Cologne School”, the leading architectural scene around Rudolf Schwarz, Dominikus and Gottfried Böhm, who worked to rebuild the city in war-torn Cologne.
In 2015, the renovation of the interior was also completed and inaugurated in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone.
St. Gregorius is the last surviving of the former 30 Cologne own or family churches, it is still owned by the family of Groote. However, only on every 1st of November (All Saints Day) and at baptisms, weddings or anniversaries of family members, the Grootes remain among themselves in the divine service in St. Gregorius Am Elend zu Köln.
Sources:
http://www.st-gregorius.koeln/st-gregorius https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Gregorius_im_Elend