St. Janskerkhof

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

MOURNING CHAPEL on the St. Janskerkhof, belonging to the R.C. St. John's Church at the Brink in the village of Laren. The chapel plays an important role in the annual procession held on the Sunday of St. John and which runs from the St. John Basilica at the Brink to the Janskerkhof. This is the only Roman Catholic procession over public roads held above the great rivers. The burial chapel dates from approximately 1880 and is constructed in a neo-gothic style.

The stained glass windows in the apse are from the former chapel of the boys' school on the Eemnesserweg.

Description

Chapel, consisting of a main volume with rectangular ground plan and five-sided apsidal closure on the south-west side. The main volume is closed by a gabled roof with three-sided closure (SW). The ridge line runs parallel with the Hilversumseweg. Left (SE) and right (NW) of the main volume is a small rectangular extension (storage space), closed by a recessed hipped roof. All roof sections are covered with slate in German bond. On the ridge angle of the apse is a wrought iron cross, on the ridge angles of the extensions a zinc ridge cresting. The chapel is constructed of red brick in English bond, above a rusticated plinth with afzaat. At a number of structural points and for a number of decorations sandstone is used, such as the curved lintel above the entrance, abutment and springer stones, decorative stone at the ridge and ridge pinnacles. The afzaat of the plinth and the window surrounds are executed in red facing brick.

The front facade (NE) has a large pointed arch opening with in the centre a curved lintel. In the lower half is a wrought iron grille fitted, in the upper half are stained glass windows separated from each other by red facing brick ribs. The grille is accessible via four brick steps. On the corners of the front facade are tapering buttresses fitted, which are crowned by pointed natural stone pinnacles. The front facade is closed by a pointed gable with saddle ridge and natural stone cross on the ridge. Left and right of the front facade is the side facade of an extension, which contains a pointed arch stained glass window.

The rear facade (SW) has in each of the sides of the apse a stained glass window and tapering buttresses on the corners. The facade is surrounded by a rusticated band and a gutter line, covered with slate in Rhenish bond.

The side facades (NW and SE) each contain a rectangular extension, which only on the north-east side contains a window. The interior has half-columns that carry a small cross-ribbed vault. Far left and right is an access to the extensions (storage cupboards), consisting of a clamped arched door with decorated wrought iron hinges. The windows contain painted stained glass windows with figurative representations of among others Mary, Christ and a young man.

Valuation

The mourning chapel is of general importance from a cultural and architectural-historical perspective as a largely well-preserved example of a neo-gothic churchyard chapel from the late 19th century and as a chapel that plays a role in the only annual Roman Catholic procession over public roads in the area above the great rivers.