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

Introduction

Dutch Reformed HALL CHURCH built in 1890-1891 as part of the church complex 'Grote Kerk' in Neo-Renaissance style and partially rebuilt in 1976 after a fire in 1971 in which the walls remained standing, visually prominent situated on a site between the Kerkbrink and the Oude Torenstraat. The front facade of the church faces east (Kerkbrink), while the medieval church tower is located on the west side (Oude Torenstraat).

Description

Dutch Reformed hall church, erected on a rectangular ground plan with risalite spout gable on the east side containing the entrance section, tower on the southeast corner, rectangular annexe with secondary functions on the south side and medieval tower on the west side. The tower, on a square ground plan, is constructed in three parts, containing gothic and partly blind pointed arch windows, in the upper part with galleries under a high-rising and polygonal pointed roof with bells and weathervane, which rises behind a breastwork. The church is erected in red brick on a sloping plinth in yellow brick above which a band of artificial stone, while the overhanging roof surfaces with a slight slope on consoles are covered with black slate tiles. The risalite on the east side is attached under a gabled roof to the hipped roof of the church interior, the tower on the southeast corner has a high-rising tent roof with clay tiles and the annexe on the south side has a perpendicular hipped roof with clay tiles. The corners of the facades contain stucco blocks. Brick courses and window edges are executed in orange/red brick. The detailing is executed in artificial stone and the majority around windows and doors in stucco. The composite stone window sections are constructed from two rectangular windows with intermediate and side lintels with base on artificial stone lintel above which a drip moulding and with termination above which a main entablature with a slightly narrower pediment containing decorative brickwork. Below the drip moulding in line with the lintels small square surfaces, the outer one with a circular motif in high relief, the middle one with indentations in bas-relief. Beside the start of the pediment on the main entablature vase-shaped finial and above the point connection, with cornice motif, to the drip moulding below the lintel of two round-arch windows above. Round the fanlights brick arches on small consoles. Below the drip moulding in line with the side lintels an angular console motif. Above the window section cornice on consoles. The windows contain stained-glass panes with purple and yellow edges.

The east facade contains in a risalite spout gable the entrance section with large arched window above, set in stucco detailing. The facade edges are covered by cornices with obelisks on the corner pieces and on bases slightly below the spout between which a band is applied across the facade with the text: 'preach the gospel'. The spout, with ornamental wall anchor, cornices and diamond-head motifs, is crowned by an obelisk. Below the spout a console motif. The two wooden entrance doors with double row of panels below fanlight are framed by stucco and separated by a half-column. Above the cornice a connection in two bands to the cornice below the window, on which two obelisks stand. The detailing includes volutes, diamond-heads and scrollwork, while a facade stone mentions: 'The foundation stone laid/2 May 1890/by Rev. S. Dijkstra'. The upper section of the four-part composite window is framed by an arch on consoles with blocks and a large decorative keystone. Two lintels are provided with profiled half-columns on consoles with faces. In the recessed flanking facade sections a composite window section.

The tower on the southeast corner contains an access door in the east facade below pediment. In the second storey in the east and south facade a window with stucco framing, in the third storey two windows, closed off by a relieving arch with keystone with diamond-head motif on stucco lintel. In the south facade on the ground floor a window below cornice with two vase-shaped finials. The roof dormer has a high four-sided projection roof with clay tiles. The transition to the rectangular annexe on the south side is formed by sloping facade sections. In the wider left part a door above which simple round-arch windows, in the right part two simple rectangular windows. The south facade of the annexe is three bays wide, articulated by buttresses. Left and right a composite window section, in the middle simple round-arch windows. In the right side facade a composite window section, in the left side facade two round-arch windows.

The north facade contains in line with the round-arch windows of the composite window section on the left side, single and double round-arch windows.

In the interior of the church the liturgical centre is located on the south side. The pulpit from 1644 is placed on a base in which old gravestones are incorporated. In the portals likewise some gravestones are placed. On the west side an organ, made by Wilhelm Rütter from Kevelaar, originally for the St. Jozefkerk in Gouda.

Valuation

The church is of general interest due to its architectural and cultural-historical value as a functionally-spatial main component of the church complex 'Grote Kerk' and as a well-preserved example of a Dutch Reformed hall church in Neo-Renaissance style from 1890-1891, visually prominent situated in the centre of Hilversum.