Sloterkerk

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

A freestanding Dutch Reformed church built in 1861 on a terp according to a design by P.J. Hamer in a sober architectural style inspired by neo-classicism. The church is situated at a forecourt, with the village square to the south of the church. Access to the churchyard surrounding the church is provided by two wrought-iron gates located on either side of the church along the Osdorperweg; the churchyard is enclosed by a beech hedge. The church is oriented to the east and was built to replace an older church building from 1664. NB During the restoration of 1960 the tower was demolished; it was rebuilt in 1965 in its original form.

Description

A hall church of brick construction on a rectangular groundplan beneath a gabled roof tiled with beaver-tail tiles, with on the east side a three-sided vestry room vaulted by a tent roof and a west tower on a square base crowned by an octagonal openwork lantern with an octagonal spire. The front and side facades are harmoniously articulated by iron round-arched windows and are provided with whitewashed glazing bars, natural stone sub-sills and sparse but careful facade detailing consisting amongst others of pilasters, round-arched friezes and dentil mouldings. Accentuated corner pilasters with spares and natural stone pinnacles which are still present in the west facade. Against the east side the vestry room consisting of a bay where a side entrance is located and a three-sided closing with multi-light arched windows. In the closed east facade of the nave a subsequently brick-filled circular window with brick moulding. The west facade is dominated by a centrally placed high-rising tower in front of the nave with three sections and a spire. On either side of the tower flat-executed side bays with round-arched windows. Corner pilasters with natural stone cordon and cornice upon which square pinnacles are placed. The side facades are articulated by five round-arched windows and closed by a brick dentil moulding.

Round-arched entrance in the west tower, accentuated with a profiled stucco round-arched moulding on ornamental consoles and consisting of a double wooden door with fanlights. The first section of the tower is otherwise flat-executed. On the division with the second section a natural stone cordon moulding. This section has on three sides spares with pilasters, round-arched friezes and consoles. At the top of the spares a small rose window with brick moulding. On the west side at this level there is still a round-arched window. On the four-sided tower, which is closed by a natural stone cornice, the octagonal open lantern is placed on small columns between which round-arched sound openings with on four sides a timepiece; on the base of the octagonal spire frontals. The spire ends in a ball and tower cross with gilded weathercock. In the interior the single-aisle rectangular nave – with predominantly greyish-green painted interior and components – is spanned by an exposed wooden roof truss structure consisting of six rafters with a tie beam, upon which the white coffered ceiling with greyish-green coffers rests. Against the walls triangular rafters with tie beam, central post and braces. The remaining four rafters are king-post rafters with decorative keystones connected by white tie rods. The rafters rest on worked consoles in front of which the cornice along the walls retracts. On the floor grey stone paving. Against the west wall is an organ gallery resting on two cast-iron columns. In the closed wooden west wall are two panelled doors to the anteroom where amongst others the stair access to the organ loft is. A pair of panelled doors on the east side of the nave give access to the vestry space. The church inventory includes amongst others interior pieces from the former church. A richly carved oak pulpit with sounding board against the east wall of the nave with hexagonal bowl and hexagonal base with Ionic pilasters (second half of 17th-18th century), brass lectern and straight pulpit staircase with cast-iron baluster posts. A freestanding lectern on stand with coat of arms dated '1664'. Along the walls of the nave eight fixed wooden benches and two canopy benches on either side of the pulpit against the side walls dating from 1861. Three seventeenth-century copper chandelier crowns in the nave with wooden plaques with the coats of arms of Amsterdam and Sloten. A one-manual balustrade organ crowned with making-music angels, according to the signature made by H. Knipscheer of Amsterdam, dating from 1851 and originating from the former church. The churchyard surrounding the church is closed by two wrought-iron gates with railings. On the churchyard there are some graves surrounded by cast-iron railings from the second half of the nineteenth century.

Bell tower with bells consisting of a bell by W. and J. Moer, 1516, diam. 77.1 cm. Mechanical tower clock, later provided with an unprotected synchronous motor.

Valuation

Hall church with tower and associated interior components and churchyard gates of general importance by virtue of their cultural and architectural-historical significance. Of situational importance by virtue of the distinctive silhouette of the church.