Kerk, Hoofdweg 30

English translation

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Description

Introduction

NETHERLANDS REFORMED CHURCH (St. Laurentius) with interior components, CHURCHYARD and ENTRANCE GATE. A traditional three-sided closed hall church, markedly located on a slightly raised churchyard bordered partly by water, beech hedges and trees, which owing to alterations in detailing carries a predominantly early 19th-century character. The present building is said to stand on the site of a church mentioned in the 13th century (1245). The original building without a tower (with a freestanding bell cote) was altered in the second half of the 17th century and completely rebuilt, whereby a pilaster arrangement was installed (presumably following earlier lesenes); the window detailing is early 19th-century. The tower dates from 1879. During the restoration in 1977, remains of older foundations were found in the form of birch trunks and heavy brickwork. The original bell, cast in 1597 by Cornelius van Ammeroy, now hangs in the likewise protected Netherlands Reformed Church of Blankenham (Ov.); the present bell - from the perspective of heritage care not of value - dates from 1957 and was cast by the firm Van Bergen at Heiligerlee. The furnishing of the interior, with Van Dam organ from 1871 and two 17th-century gravestones and an early 19th-century example, dates from around 1830. The churchyard surrounding the church with cast and wrought iron entrance gate from the second half of the 19th century is likewise protected by the national government. The grave markers are of local/regional importance.

Description

Simple, traditionally constructed from brown-red brickwork mid-17th-century and earlier nave under a three-sided hipped roof covered with glazed blue flat Frisian tiles with ridge tile with copper weathervane against the straight 19th-century (1879) front facade with tower with copper weathervane; gutter on brackets, rod wall anchors. The carefully laid brickwork of the three-sided closed nave is regularly divided by flat pilasters between which, every other bay, semicircles are closed with windows with wooden tracery; furthermore some oval windows. Front facade and tower structure have characteristic second half 19th-century (1879) detailing: pilasters with recessed fields, semicircles closed with windows and (in north and west facades) double entrance door with cast iron tracery in semicircular fanlight, stone decorative elements around entrance section and louvers; hardstone plinth and window sills; cast iron ornamental wall anchors. In the octagonal tower, with slate-covered lantern and constricted spire with copper weathercock, ornamental wrought ironwork and clockwork, a bell cast in 1879 at Van Bergen in Heiligerlee. (The old bell bore the inscription Verbum Domini manet in Eternum, the date 1597 and the names of the maker Cornelius van Ammeroy and of the patron saint St. Laurentius). Above the entrance section of the tower a commemorative stone with the inscription: Built 1879/Church Wardens Sint A. Klijnsma/Cornelis Groenteboom/Evert J. Schreur. In the austere INTERIOR covered by a barrel vault with wooden ties and cast iron grilles are among others of importance the early 19th-century furnishings (XIXa-b), consisting of among others a hexagonal pulpit, benches and rood screen (gallery). Furthermore two 17th-century gravestones and an early 19th-century example. The single-manual organ with attached pedal, accompanying gallery and richly carved case, was built in 1871 by L. van Dam and Sons at Leeuwarden. The pipe fields in the front follow the ground plan. On either side of the central field there are divided fieldlets which are incorporated in the roof of the central field. Instead of by two side towers, the front is bounded by two vaulted side fields. The instrument has 7 continuous stops 3 treble-stops and 1 bass-stop. The organ is in original condition and was restored in 1981 by Flentrop Orgelbouw B.V. at Zaandam. Mechanical tower clock Brunia, Exmorra, first quarter 20th century.

Valuation

Church building (XVII/XIX), located on a slightly raised churchyard with second half 19th-century entrance gate, of general importance because of - age and building history - the austere, yet carefully executed architectural quality of exterior and interior - the valuable interior components - the striking location on a slightly raised churchyard