Kerk, Oude Markt 23

English translation

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Description

Onze Lieve Vrouw van het Heilig Hart, 1875-1877, consecrated in 1879, architect J. Kayser. Brick-built cross basilica with galleries above the side aisles, ambulatory with radiating chapels, high crossing tower and stair towers on either side of the front facade. The crossing tower has on the corners of the bell storey open-worked polygonal turrets, whose spires accompany the high central spire. In the portal an inset commemorative stone with inscription recalling the elevation to basilica status on 10 May 1883. Rose windows in the west facade and in the light aisles. Polychrome interior with brick in different colours. Stained glass in the north and south transepts with respectively depictions of male saints in two registers (Aaron, David, high priest Simon, Elias, Moses, Gideon, Solomon, Isaiah) and depictions of female saints in two registers (Eve, daughter of Jephthah, Abigail, Esther, Rebecca, Deborah, Hannah, Judith) all from the Old Testament. In the ambulatory the chapels are provided with stained glass with depictions of Angela, Augustine, Joseph with Child, Aloysius, Ursula, while the glasswork of the five-sided closed choir is built up per bay in three registers with the depictions (from north to south, from top to bottom): marriage of Mary and Joseph; Mary as a child in the temple; birth of Mary/adoration by the three kings; birth of Jesus; annunciation/Jesus as teacher in the temple; flight to Egypt; presentation of Jesus in the temple/noli me tangere; entombment; crucifixion/assumption of Mary into heaven; deathbed of Mary; ascension of Jesus. Coloured glass windows with ornamental motifs in the galleries. Neo-Gothic furnishings from the time of construction, consisting of high altar; benches and confessionals (1880, workshop J.W. Ramakers & Zn. from Geleen); communion rail (1880); canopy and bell; crucifix hanging between transept and choir; six crown lamps; pulpit in the north-western corner of transept and nave; in the choir a tabernacle with baldachin above which a polyptych with depictions of 24 saints, and with a polychromed image of Mary with Child (1868) in a niche; sanctuary lamp (1881); image of St Joseph and image of the Sacred Heart of Christ; side altars and choir stalls (workshop F. Stoltzenberg from Roermond), a Pieta (Te Poel and Stoltephus from 's-Gravenhage) and many painted ex-votos in the form of tiles. The pilgrimage church Onze Lieve Vrouw van het Heilig Hart is the oldest basilica of our country in the sense of ecclesiastical honorific title. It represents a masterpiece in the oeuvre of architect J. Kayser, thereby taking a special place in architectural history, also because of the stylistic unity of exterior and interior, as well as on the basis of its fine state of preservation, while the object possesses historical and urban planning values because opposite the church the so-called "Maria-park" (1891) is located, being a rest and sojourn for pilgrims, likewise a design by J. Kayser.