Heidelberg's Heiliggeistkirche, a Protestant church located in southwest Germany, held two Taylor Swift-themed services on May 12, 2024. Aimed at attracting younger attendees, the church integrated Swift's music to inspire both religious reflection and discussion. The event, named "Anti-Hero – Taylor Swift Church Service," quickly filled all 423 available seats, prompting the addition of a second service due to high demand.
Taylor Swift's music, known for addressing various social and political issues besides including Christian themes, was featured prominently throughout the service. Tracks like "Shake It Off" and "Must Be Something More" were performed, with parish pastor Vinccenzo Petracca highlighting the Christian elements in Swift's songs.
The service was noted for its unique approach to engaging a younger audience, an objective supported by performances from Tine Wiechmann, a singer and professor of religious music. The event left attendees both emotionally touched and physically active, dancing in the pews at some points.
Following the success of this initiative, the church plans to continue these themed services with future events focusing on artists like Billie Eilish and Beyoncé scheduled for autumn. The church hopes such services can continue to draw in and engage younger demographics, although there is no expectation for a dramatic long-term increase in church attendance among this group.