- Pancratiuskerk
The Pancratiuskerk is a
Roman Catholic church inHeerlen in theNetherlands .History
Although no written sources about the origin of the church are known, a comparative study (including among others
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek inMaastricht ) concludes that building started in the first half of the 12th century [ [http://www.heerlen.nl/smartsite.dws?id=6149] website] .It is believed that the building was commissioned by the counts of
Ahr-Hochstaden in theRhineland , then the lords of Heerlen [ [http://www.heerlen.nl/smartsite.dws?id=6149] website] .The current
bell tower was built in 1394, and for the size of the church at that time was of a relatively heavy construction. The tower served as part of the defense mechanism for theLandsfort Herle .From 1632 till 1836 the Pancratiuskerk served as a church for both Catholics and Protestants. The Protestants obtained their own church in 1836 and the arrangement ended. [ [http://www.heerlen.nl/Smartsite.dws?id=6227] website] .
A stair tower, located on the south side of the bell tower was built in 1862 [ [http://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/view.jsp?content=910] website] .
Between 1901 and 1903
Joseph Cuypers renovated and enlarged the church. The choir was demolished and replaced by a new eastern part, with atransept ,crossing tower and a new choir, all inneo-romanesque style and usingmarl stone [ [http://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/view.jsp?content=910] website] .Frits Peutz , best known for theGlaspaleis located on the same square, supervised the repair ofwar damage between 1945 and 1948 [ [http://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/view.jsp?content=910] website] .In 1960 a
sacristy and abaptistry were built on the south side [ [http://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/view.jsp?content=910] website] .The current interior is a mixture of an interior created by
Pierre Cuypers in 1880 and a modernisation of 1969.Frescoes created byCharles Eyck decorate parts of the ceiling [ [http://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/view.jsp?content=910] website] .The
stained glass windows dating from between 1947 until the 1960s was created byEugène Laudy and includeSaint Nicholas ,Saint Andrew ,Saint Barbara , andSaint Servatius [ [http://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/view.jsp?content=910] website] .Architectural features
The building is a
triple-aisled cruciform church in the Romanesque style.References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
