Dutch Church, Austin Friars
Dutch Church, Austin Friars Nederlandse Kerk Londen | ||
---|---|---|
Style Mid twentieth century architecture | | |
Years built | 1354 rebuilt 1950–1954 | ,|
Demolished | 15–16 October 1940 | |
Clergy | ||
Minister(s) | Bertjan van de Lagemaat |
The Dutch Church, Austin Friars (
The present church was built between 1950 and 1954[1] and is a familiar landmark in the Broad Street Ward.[3] With the founding of the church dating to 1550, it is the oldest Dutch-language Protestant church in the world,[4] and as such is known in The Netherlands as the mother church of all Dutch reformed churches.
History
The original church was a monastic
The nave became the first official
By 1570, the Dutch community was the largest group of expatriates in London, numbering 5,000 out of the 100,000 total population of the time. About half of the Dutch in London were Protestants who fled the Flemish Low Countries due to religious persecution. Others were skilled craftsman, including brewers, tile makers, weavers, artists, printers and engravers, who came to England for economic opportunities. Engraver Martin Droeshout, famous for his 1623 portrait of William Shakespeare, was among the Flemish Protestant emigrants who arrived in London.[1]
A century later, the arrival of William of Orange brought a second wave of Dutch emigrants to London. This second group included noblemen, bankers, courtiers, merchants, architects and artists.[1]
20th century
In the night of 15–16 October 1940, just a decade before the Dutch Church celebrated its 400th anniversary, the medieval building was completely destroyed by German bombs. The church's collection of rare books including Dutch Bibles, atlases and encyclopedias had been moved out of London for safe-keeping one day before the bombing raid that destroyed the building. The church's manuscript collection and original charter are kept in the London Metropolitan Archives. The church's library collection is currently being digitalised, but, by April 2021, the online catalogue remained unpublished.
The foundation stone of the new church was laid on 23 July 1950 by the 10-year-old Princess Irene of the Netherlands. The new church, built to the design of Arthur Bailey, was completed in 1954. The new building is a concrete box frame, externally clad in Portland stone. It features 1950s stained glass by the Dutch painter Max Nauta, Hugh Ray Easton and William Wilson.[10] The church possesses detailed archives,[11] and is a popular tourist attraction.[12]
The church was designated a Grade-II
21st century
The church remains active today, with weekly Dutch-language church services, confirmation classes, and meetings for various groups. The church also does outreach to the Dutch community in London, including ministering to the elderly. The church is home to two other UK registered charities: The Netherlands Benevolent Society (NBS) and The Dutch Centre. On 24 April 2015,
In April 2014, the minister of the church, Rev. Joost Röselaers, confirmed that the Dutch Church was able to perform weddings for same-sex couples.[14]
Members of the Dutch Stranger Church
- Cornelis Bol, Flemish painter
- Lucas de Heere, Flemish painter, elder of the church
- Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen, painter
- John a Lasco, first superintendent of the church
- Marten Micron, first pastor of the church
- Steven Mierdman, printer (pseudonym Niclaes van Oldenborch), joined the church in 1550
- George van Parris, surgeon, burned in London for heresy on 25 April 1551
- Jan Utenhove, writer, elder of the church
- Justus Velsius, dissident, joined the church in 1563
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e Reinier Salverda. "The Dutch Church in London Past and Present". Digital Library for Dutch Literature. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ British History On-line
- ISBN 0-09-461880-1.
- ^ "The Dutch Church" (in Dutch). DBNL. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "The City Churches" Tabor, M. p32:London; The Swarthmore Press Ltd; 1917
- ^ Victoria County History, London, Vol.1, 1909, Friaries: The Austin Friary, pp.510–513
- ^ Page, p.512
- ISBN 9781783272242
- ^ Holder, Nick (2011). "The Medieval Friaries of London (PhD thesis)". University of London.
- ^ a b Historic England. "The Dutch Church (1376620)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
- ISBN 0-85372-112-2.
- ^ More details
- ISBN 90-6550-609-8.
- ^ Arjen van der Horst (14 April 2014). "Yes, I will in de Dutch Church". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 March 2015.