Grote Kerk

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

In 1849-51 realised to the design of I. Warnsinck at the location of the Gothic hall church demolished in 1844 and adjoining the - separately protected - medieval Sint Janstoren. The church building, constructed in red brick, interspersed with yellow decorative stones, on a natural stone plinth under saddle and lean-to roofs covered with slate, is straight-ended and contains on the east side a projecting entrance portico, whereby the main entrance is provided with double panel doors, semicircular and subdivided fanlight, wooden pilaster frame and two lanterns with wrought-iron volute arm, furthermore a rose window in the pointed apex and narrow side entrances on either side in the portico.

The building is articulated externally by buttresses and pilaster strips between which spare fields with round-arch friezes and originally cast-iron round-arch windows, as well as cordon strings, while the intermediate section counting two storeys, in which the consistory room, is executed in more austere manner. In both long side facades furthermore a side entrance with double panel doors and wooden frame.

Interiorly, the whitewashed church space, articulated by rectangular pillars and pilasters provided with painted capitals, is covered in the central nave by a cove vault with rectangular compartments in which ventilation grilles, and in the side aisles by cross vaults.

From the previous church remain diverse 17th-century tombstones, as well as the remains of the early-14th-century, executed in limestone, funerary monument dedicated to Jan III van Arkel and his wife Mabelia van Voorne, consisting of the cover stone with two figures lying beneath early-Gothic baldachins of a man in coat of mail and surcoat with large shield, and at his feet a lion and of a woman in long robe and coif, accompanied by two small dogs. From the time of construction date: the pulpit situated centrally on the south side with adjoining baptismal gate; the seating plan with low chest, provided with rounded corners; the organ gallery supported by pillars with railing, organ built by C.G.F. Witte (of the firm Batz) in 1851-53 in which old pipework from the organ made for the previous church by J.H.H. Batz in 1761 has been incorporated and whereby the case is crowned by three angel figures; as well as in the central nave five bronze 20-armed chandeliers, whereby in the middle one a crown fragment with 1588 has been incorporated, originating from the previous church; furthermore the eight-armed chandeliers in the side aisles.

Mid-19th-century church building with partly older, formerly belonging to the previous church, and partly originating from the time of construction interior components of importance due to architectural and cultural-historical value, as well as due to the connection with the medieval church tower and the historical setting.