Dutch Church, Austin Friars

Dutch Church, Austin Friars
The oldest Dutch foundation in the world
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	United Reformed Church
Website	Dutch Church
Architecture
Style	Georgian architecture

The Dutch Church is a familiar landmark^[1] within Broad Street Ward,^[2] in the City of London. The original church was a monastic foundation^[3] and the Dutch connection goes back to 1550^[4] when King Edward VI gave Protestant refugees from the Netherlands permission to establish their own parish. It is as such the oldest Dutch-language Protestant church in the world.^[5]

In 1940, the building was destroyed during the Blitz, but in 1950 a new church was built to the design of Arthur Bailey. The new building is a concrete box frame, externally clad in Portland stone.^[6] The church possesses detailed archives,^[7] and is a popular tourist attraction,^[8] it celebrated its 450th anniversary in the millennium year.^[9]

The church was designated a Grade II listed building on 25 September 1998.^[6]

See also

• English Reformed Church, Amsterdam
• Stranger churches

Notes

1. ^ The City of London—a history, Borer, M.I.C. : New York, D. McKay Co, 1978 ISBN 0094618801.
2. ^ British History On-line
3. ^ Churches of the City of London, Reynolds, H: London, The Bodley head, 1922.
4. ^ "The London Encyclopaedia" Hibbert,C;Weinreb,D;Keay,J: London, Pan Macmillan, 1983 (rev 1993,2008) ISBN 978-1-4050-4924-5
5. ^ Official web-site
6. ^ ^{a b} Details from listed building database (479546) . Images of England. English Heritage. accessed 24 January 2009
7. ^ Guide to the City Churches, Betjeman, J: Andover, Pitkin, 1974 ISBN 0853721122.
8. ^ More details
9. ^ Kerk in de City, Sluyterman, K.E. Hilversum, Verloren, 2000 ISBN 9065506098.

External links

• Dutch Church, Austin Friars

Coordinates: 51°30′56″N 0°5′8″W / 51.51556°N 0.08556°W / 51.51556; -0.08556