Ms Merkel was received at the church forecourt by member of the board of trustees, Mr Eckhard Uhlenberg.

Ms Merkel greeted the cathedral’s master builder, Jürgen Prigl, and was shown the inside of the Wiesenkirche.

Ms Merkel listened attentively to the explanations of the building and the “Westphalian Supper”.

Despite the cold wind and the threatening rain, Ms Merkel did not hesitate to go to the highest floor of the scaffolding and view the construction site.