Sint Ritakerk

English translation

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Description

Introduction

An east-oriented Roman Catholic basilica CHURCH built in 1921-1922 after a design by A.J. Kropholler in traditionalist style, originally named 'St. Rita over 't Y', built at the commission of the church council of the parish St. Rita and consecrated in 1922. Surrounding the church, situated at the corner of the Hagedoornplein and the Buiksloterweg, is a processional passage. On the south side there is a passage in the railings leading to the church.

N.B. The church, severely damaged in a bombing in 1943, was restored after the war in close consultation with A.J. Kropholler to its original state by architect C.M. van Moorsel Pzn. In 1947 an entrance tower with a gabled roof and half-hipped end was also built on the west side by C.M. van Moorsel Pzn., on the site of the originally planned tower consisting of four storeys with a tall pyramidal spire, cross and weathervane. Following a renovation in 1973 at the commission of the diocese of Haarlem, the western half of the church, separated by a wall, houses the Public Library. In 1976 the roof was renewed.

Description

A basilical church constructed in dark brown brick under a gabled roof covered with red tiles, consisting of a wide central nave extending over seven bays with narrow side aisles sloping towards the west from the presbytery and covered by a flat timber ceiling, in the east the single-aisled choir with a lowered pointed-ended choir apse with adjoining sacristy and other ancillary rooms with entrances on the Buiksloterweg, in the west an entrance tower with a curved gabled roof. The church has a passage to the rectory in the south-east and is connected to the convent complex by a wall in the north-east. The choir, covered by a tent roof, ends in two blind walls. The long elevations of choir and nave are articulated by three high-set paired lancet windows with stained glass windows. The bays are separated by heavy massive cut buttresses with their backs rising above the roof line and, on the division of the nave with the choir bay, high-rising buttress walls, with a chimney on the south side. The side aisle bays have three paired small windows with a rectangular closed window beneath the middle one, all with drip mouldings, and an openwork balustrade in cross shapes, in the western elevations round-topped doors. The south side aisle has a passage to the sacristy and rectory at the level of the choir. In the tower, consisting of two storeys, with two buttresses positioned at right angles to each other on the corners, there is a deep-set pointed-arch portal, accessible via a broad flight of three steps with an adjoining low wall to the side, with moulded archivolts on a natural stone plinth and a round-topped double oak door, natural stone corner blocks and projecting drip moulding above, surmounted by a pointed-arch stained glass fanlight. Above the portal in natural stone the inscription 'EVEN IN HARSH WINTER WINDS SPRING ROSES BLOOM AT ST. RITA'S PRAYER', taken from the original front facade. In the second storey of the tower a Christ monogram in brick between the letters alpha and omega. Below the roof line a pointed-arch window with drip moulding, on the ridge of the tower structure an iron cross. Side entrances on either side of the tower, on the right side a semi-circular small staircase tower.

Internally the wide central nave is spanned by a visible wooden roof truss structure, resting on heavy natural stone corbels, with steel connections. The central nave, which offers unobstructed views of the altar, is separated from each of the side aisles by a row of brick pointed-arch arcades carried by square natural stone piers with bevelled sides and decorated with sandstone capitals bearing the attributes of the twelve apostles, also the springing points of the transverse arches. Above the arcades lancet windows with multicoloured stained glass windows divided into squares, with a symbolic representation in the centre. The walls of the nave and choir are provided with wainscoting of yellow facing brick.

In the side aisles the confessional booths are incorporated between the buttresses. Above these three paired windows, likewise with multicoloured stained glass windows divided into squares. The church space is separated from the raised presbytery by a pointed-arch triumphal arch; the transition to the wood-covered choir apse is likewise spanned across the width of the choir by a pointed-arch arch. In the side windows of the choir diamond-shaped yellow stained glass. On the floor red and brown tiles. At the level of the side aisles, the nave of the church was divided in 1973 by approximately 4 metres high wall of gas concrete block, which separates the sacred space from the western half, accessible via the tower portal. This leads to a narthex in which a masonry holy water stoup has been placed. Two columns with cubic capitals and with natural stone springing points decorated with the four evangelist symbols support the pointed arches, above which a gallery where flags are now displayed.

The main altar executed in marble with bronze tabernacle dates from 1922 and was made after a design by Kropholler. Communion rails, at some distance from the moulded church benches, and an ambo executed in matt bronze likewise after a design by Kropholler. A pair of sculpted natural stone retables from 1932 above the side altars after a design by Dom van der Mey, representing the Holy Family and the Sacred Heart. Image of St. Rita in a frame painted on the blind choir walls in the choir closure behind the main altar, with two large angel figures painted by Dom van der Mey on either side representing the Holy Spirit and the Lamb of God (1922-29). Golgotha representation on the triumphal arch before the presbytery from the same period likewise by Dom van der Mey. At the site of the original second ambo a marble red-and-white veined baptismal font with bronze cover (second half of 19th century). Against the walls of nave and choir four plaster figures on corbels, representing St. Anthony of Padua, St. Monica, St. Augustine and St. Nicholas of Tolentino, possibly originating from the former auxiliary church on the Laanweg. The sandstone decorations on the capitals of the piers, installed in 1946, are by H. van Haaren. Four wrought-iron chandeliers with fluorescent tubes were designed by the Utrecht master metalworker De Groot, likewise from 1946. The stained glass windows in the choir, representing the Storm on the Sea of Galilee and the Miraculous Multiplication of the Loaves, date from 1946 and were designed by glazier J. Dijker.

Valuation

Roman Catholic St. Rita Church with associated interior components of general significance due to its cultural and architectural historical value, in a traditionalist style characteristic of Kropholler, influenced by Berlage, with extensive use of brick alongside details executed in natural stone. Basilical church with wide central nave for the faithful and indirectly lit presbytery illustrates the renewal in the liturgy, whereby optimal visual accessibility of the altar was aimed for. Authentic example of church architecture in the oeuvre of A.J. Kropholler and of particular significance as one of the two main components of the ecclesiastical complex. Situated at the forecourt of the Rosa convent, it contributes significantly to the enclosed character of the convent. Of urban planning importance due to its prominent location at the corner of the Hagedoornplein and the Buiksloterweg.