Kerk, Dorpsstraat 5

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction

Built on the edge of the high terrace, possibly still a church from the second half of the 13th century, which has undergone many alterations and repairs in the course of its existence, including after destructions in the 16th and 17th centuries. A narrow window niche and a dead hole date from around 1450; the roof turret, with bell from 1603, from 1787. In 1851 a continuous plastered barrel vault was placed above the nave and choir and the outer walls were plastered. This finish layer was removed after 1945 and replaced with a white paint layer. During the 1963 restoration, traces of two arches were found in the north wall, which may indicate Romanesque-Gothic barrel vaults. The narrow blocked-up pointed arch window in the north wall was already broken through the wall arch in the Gothic period, which means that the vaults had already collapsed at that time or that they were never executed. During the aforementioned restoration the outlines of the wall arches were indicated in the plasterwork, as were those of the churchyard gate in the north wall, which was blocked up in 1787 during a renovation. A stone in the north wall, which formerly lay above the main entrance on the west side, commemorates this renovation under the direction of architect A. Meursing. On this occasion two windows were also moved in the choir and the middle window was blocked up. As evidenced by a memorial stone in the south wall, the church and tower were restored in 1957.

Description

Simple whitewashed aisle church with three-sided choir closure and with glazed blue tile hipped roof, on which on the west side stands a roof turret clad with wooden tiles with a tapered, slate-covered spire with weathercock. Nave and choir are regularly articulated by round arch windows with wooden tracery. Entrance on west side; churchyard gate in the north wall. In the INTERIOR, which is laid with red and grey tiles, among other things of importance are:

- the hexagonal oak wooden pulpit with sounding board from around 1630, with niche decoration on the panels, cartouches on the upper edge and ebony inlay work; the knob of the basket was attached in 1963;

- the late 17th century (1681) wooden offertory box (alms pole) with iron fittings;

- the copper baptismal basin from 1696 on a wrought iron stand from around 1780;

- the early 17th century communion table in Dutch Renaissance style;

- before the raised choir floor a sarcophagus lid from the 9th or 10th century and, in the floor of the choir, two 18th century slabs, dedicated respectively to schulte Jan Alingh and Jan Hilbingh, member of the provincial assembly;

- against the choir two presumed 13th century sarcophagus lids, one of red Weserbergland stone, the other of Gildehaus sandstone.

The originally two-manual ORGAN was made in 1840 by organ builder J.C. Scheuer from Zwolle for the Reformed Church at Woudsend. This instrument was replaced in 1938 by an organ from the firm Bakker and Timmenga in Leeuwarden, who took over the Scheuer organ and preserved it in dismantled condition until it was purchased in 1992 by the church wardens of Gasselte. In the roof turret there is a bell frame with bell by F. van Butgen from 1603 (diam. 80 cm).

Valuation

A church building possibly still from the second half of the 13th century in layout, of general importance because of:

- age and building history;

- the sober but carefully designed form;

- the valuable interior components;

- the distinctive location on the edge of the high terrace.