Kerk, Kerkstraat 77

English translation

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Description

Introduction complex component 1

Roman Catholic CHURCH of H. Willibrordus built from 1903 on commission of pastor Bruijstens according to a neo-Gothic design by the architect Nicolaas Molenaar. The church was completed in 1905 and replaced an older one from 1724.

In front of the church stands a Sacred Heart statue hewn from natural stone.

The front garden of the church and adjoining rectory is bounded at the street side by a wrought-iron FENCE with small whip strokes, placed on a brick base with saddle-back copings.

N.B. In 1976 an extension was realized which is of subordinate importance for protection.

Description

Basilica cruciform church constructed in bright red brick in header bond under slate roof (Maas covering) with gabled and hipped roofs. The church consists of a centrally placed square tower under a four-sided spire with on the right a small stair turret under an equally four-sided spire, further a three-aisled nave of seven bays with transept and a seven-sided choir. The nave has an open crossing tower with bell under a narrow spire. On either side of the choir the sacristy on one side and a stair turret under a six-sided tent roof on the other. The windows of the church are pointed arch-shaped, the spires of the towers are crowned with cross flowers, on the tower spire a weathervane and on the roof of nave and sacristy dormer windows are placed under a constricted spire with finial. The front facade (north) is dominated by the square tower with the centrally placed main entrance within archivolts consisting of a heavy oak door with fittings and above the natural stone lintel a three-light fanlight with tracery. Above this a frieze of pointed arch-shaped spandrels, a window with tracery and two spandrels with tracery. The top of the tower steps back at the corners, where short tower-shaped building elements under four-sided masonry caps with cross flowers are placed. In four sides double sound holes under a round clock face. The nave with side aisles is articulated by projecting buttresses, under the roof edge of nave and side aisles a decorative projecting frieze is applied. At the location of the clerestory windows with tracery, the side aisles have simple pointed arch windows. In the transept arms and the choir tall narrow windows are placed between buttresses. Here too a projecting frieze is found along the roof edge.

INTERIOR. The church possesses for the most part intact and in 1987 restored, original interior of which the bays are vaulted by cross-rib vaults resting on columns and half-columns provided with capitals decorated with acanthus leaves. The vaults are polychrome painted with floral motifs. Above the arches a blind triforium is applied with above it pointed arch windows with tracery. Noteworthy are among others the oak benches with light sandstone sections in the side walls, the floor tiles, oak doors of the confessionals with fittings and stained-glass windows. The oldest windows are by Otto Mengelberg (1867-1924), later windows from the workshop of F. Nicolas and Sons were added, some of which were designed by Joep Nicolas (1897-1972). Further noteworthy are the pulpit and a communion rail made of French sandstone manufactured in the workshop of Mengelberg, the black marble altar, the marble baptismal font, the oak organ gallery. The stained-glass windows in the priest's choir and in the chapels on either side thereof are from the workshop of O. Mengelberg and H.A.N. de Vos of Utrecht. The altarpiece on the high altar comes from the Hague H.H. Engelbewaarders. The Adema organ from 1905 and the organ case (rebuilt in 1949 by the firm Bik) are not of value from the point of view of monument conservation.

Valuation

The H. Willibrordus church dating from 1905, principal component of the complex of the same name, with associated interior of general importance because of cultural and architectural-historical value

- as a representative example of an internally and externally intact preserved Roman Catholic church, built in a neo-Gothic style characteristic of the construction period and function, of great importance in the oeuvre of M.C. Molenaar.

- because of the situational and ensemble value because of the visually defining location, reminiscent of the former timber church and the dominance in the Catholic enclave of the one on the Kerkstraat and the visual coherence with the other complex components.