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.
Edward VI Granting Permission to John a Lasco to Set Up a Congregation for European Protestants in London in 1550, attributed to Johann Valentin Haidt (1700–1780)
The Dutch Church (1820) by Edward Wedlake Brayley from A Topographical and Historical Description of London and Middlesex
The original church was a monastic priory known as the Austin Friars, London, a contraction of "Augustinian Friars", founded circa 1253[5] by Humphrey de Bohun, 2nd Earl of Hereford (d. 1275).[6] The pretender Perkin Warbeck, executed on 23 November 1499 for claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury, the younger of the Princes in the Tower, is buried in the church.[citation needed] The priory was dissolved in November 1538.[7] The City of London attempted to buy the church of the friary from the Crown in 1539 and again in 1546 but was rebuffed. In 1550, London's community of "Germans and other strangers" was granted the use of the friary church's nave;[8] the rest of the church was used as a storehouse, with the monuments sold for £100 and the lead stripped from the roof. The choir, tower and transepts were demolished in 1600.
The nave became the first official nonconformist chapel in England under its Polish-born superintendent John a Lasco (known in Poland as Jan Łaski) who had founded a preaching house for a group of Protestant refugees mainly from the Low Countries. The mostly Dutch and French speaking "strangers" were granted a royal charter on 24 July 1550 that allowed them to establish a Stranger Church and this was incorporated by letters patent from King Edward VI.[9] Upon incorporation, the church was named the "Temple of the Lord Jesus" and had four pastors: two for Dutch and two for the French-Walloon who by the 1580s began using St Anthony's Chapel in Threadneedle Street.
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
Interior view towards the East
The foundation stone of the new church
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 and a launch date for the online catalogue of September 2015 was announced. Nevertheless, by April 2021, the online catalogue remains 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 listed building on 25 September 1998.[10] In 2000, the church celebrated its 450th anniversary; Prof. Keetie E Sluyterman at the University of Utrecht published a book about the church and its history, De Kerk in de City.[1][13]
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, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands was honorary guest in the Dutch Church for a jubilee celebration to mark 150 years since the founding of the NBS. On the same day the Dutch Centre was officially opened by Laetitia van den Assum, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the United Kingdom, Liesbeth Knook, Chairman of the Church Council and Paul Beiboer, General Manager of London branch of Rabobank.
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]
^Holder, Nick (2017). The Friaries of Medieval London: From Foundation to Dissolution 20 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine (Woodbridge: Boydell), pp. 121, 126, 130; ISBN9781783272242
^Holder, Nick (2011). "The Medieval Friaries of London (PhD thesis)". University of London.
dutch, church, austin, friars, dutch, nederlandse, kerk, londen, reformed, church, broad, street, ward, city, london, located, site, 13th, century, augustinian, friary, original, building, granted, protestant, refugees, their, church, services, 1550, destroyed. The Dutch Church Austin Friars Dutch Nederlandse Kerk Londen is a reformed church 1 in the Broad Street Ward in the City of London 2 Located on the site of the 13th century Augustinian friary the original building granted to Protestant refugees for their church services in 1550 was destroyed during the London Blitz Dutch Church Austin FriarsNederlandse Kerk LondenThe world s oldest Dutch reformed churchLocation7 Austin Friars LondonCountryUnited KingdomWebsitewww wbr dutchchurch wbr org wbr ukHistoryFounded24 July 1550ArchitectureArchitect s Sir Arthur BaileyStyleMid twentieth century architectureYears built1354 rebuilt 1950 1954Demolished15 16 October 1940ClergyMinister s Bertjan van de LagemaatThe 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 Contents 1 History 2 20th century 3 21st century 4 Members of the Dutch Stranger Church 5 See also 6 Notes 7 External linksHistory Edit Edward VI Granting Permission to John a Lasco to Set Up a Congregation for European Protestants in London in 1550 attributed to Johann Valentin Haidt 1700 1780 Portrait of Willem Thielen minister of the Dutch Church 1634 by Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen The Dutch Church 1820 by Edward Wedlake Brayley from A Topographical and Historical Description of London and Middlesex The original church was a monastic priory known as the Austin Friars London a contraction of Augustinian Friars founded circa 1253 5 by Humphrey de Bohun 2nd Earl of Hereford d 1275 6 The pretender Perkin Warbeck executed on 23 November 1499 for claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury the younger of the Princes in the Tower is buried in the church citation needed The priory was dissolved in November 1538 7 The City of London attempted to buy the church of the friary from the Crown in 1539 and again in 1546 but was rebuffed In 1550 London s community of Germans and other strangers was granted the use of the friary church s nave 8 the rest of the church was used as a storehouse with the monuments sold for 100 and the lead stripped from the roof The choir tower and transepts were demolished in 1600 The nave became the first official nonconformist chapel in England under its Polish born superintendent John a Lasco known in Poland as Jan Laski who had founded a preaching house for a group of Protestant refugees mainly from the Low Countries The mostly Dutch and French speaking strangers were granted a royal charter on 24 July 1550 that allowed them to establish a Stranger Church and this was incorporated by letters patent from King Edward VI 9 Upon incorporation the church was named the Temple of the Lord Jesus and had four pastors two for Dutch and two for the French Walloon who by the 1580s began using St Anthony s Chapel in Threadneedle Street 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 Edit Interior view towards the East The foundation stone of the new church 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 and a launch date for the online catalogue of September 2015 was announced Nevertheless by April 2021 the online catalogue remains 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 listed building on 25 September 1998 10 In 2000 the church celebrated its 450th anniversary Prof Keetie E Sluyterman at the University of Utrecht published a book about the church and its history De Kerk in de City 1 13 21st century EditThe 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 Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands was honorary guest in the Dutch Church for a jubilee celebration to mark 150 years since the founding of the NBS On the same day the Dutch Centre was officially opened by Laetitia van den Assum Ambassador of the Netherlands to the United Kingdom Liesbeth Knook Chairman of the Church Council and Paul Beiboer General Manager of London branch of Rabobank In April 2014 the minister of the church Rev Joost Roselaers confirmed that the Dutch Church was able to perform weddings for same sex couples 14 Members of the Dutch Stranger Church EditCornelis 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 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 1563See also EditEnglish Reformed Church Amsterdam Stranger churches Susanne van Soldt ManuscriptNotes Edit 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 The City of London a history Borer M I C New York D McKay Co 1978 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 Holder Nick 2017 The Friaries of Medieval London From Foundation to Dissolution Archived 20 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Woodbridge Boydell pp 121 126 130 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 Guide to the City Churches Betjeman J Andover Pitkin 1974 ISBN 0 85372 112 2 More details De Kerk in de City Sluyterman K E Hilversum Verloren 2000 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 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dutch Church Austin Friars Dutch Church Austin FriarsCoordinates 51 30 56 N 0 5 8 W 51 51556 N 0 08556 W 51 51556 0 08556 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dutch Church Austin Friars amp oldid 1114958913, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
