Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk (English: Great, or St. Lawrence church) is a landmark formerly Protestant church in Alkmaar, Netherlands, now in secular use. The building is located on the Koorstraat (choir street). It is mostly closed in the winter and open for tourists in the summer months or by appointment.
The Grote Kerk (1470–1498), dedicated to St Lawrence, is a handsome building and contains the tomb of Floris V, Count of Holland (d. 1296), a brass of 1546, and some paintings (1507).[1]Anna Visscher is buried in this church.[2]
The church was designed by Anthonius Keldermans (c. 1440–1512), from a church building family from Mechelen.[2]
Organs
Koororgel, Grote Kerk, Alkmaar
The two organs are world-famous. The smaller one, called the "Koororgel" (choir organ), was built in 1511 by Jan van Covelens, and is built against the north wall of the church.[2] It is the oldest playable organ in the Netherlands. The larger organ at the west end of the church is one of the most famous, significant and beautiful organs in the world. It was built by Jacobus Caltus van Hagerbeer, finished in 1645. The magnificent casework, which unusually stretches from floor to vault and makes the organ part of the architecture of the church, was designed by Jacob van Campen, a leading architect of the time. The enormous canvas shutters were painted by Caesar van Everdingen.[2] The organ was rebuilt in 1723 by Frans Caspar Schnitger.[2] He left the casework much as it was, but created an organ in the North German style within the old case. He reused much of the old fluework, but all the mixtures and reeds were new. The organ has not been changed much since then, and is rare in that 90 percent of the original material, pipework, action, soundboards, case, survives. As such it is one of the most important organs in the world. It is the subject of a documentary made in 2013 and released on DVD by Fugue State Films as "Alkmaar: The Organs of the Laurenskerk".
Carillon
The bourdon bell by C. and J. Moer cast in 1525 (photo c. 1900 when the turret was restored)
The hour bell (bourdon) was made by Casparus and Johannes Moer in 1525, with a diameter or 130 cm.[3] tone Cis1. ±1950 kg. The bell was given by the abbot of the monastery in Egmond near Alkmaar. The text on the bell:
Ick heet Saligmaeker. Als ick geluydt word bedrijf ick rou over de dooden. Door mijn clanck verdrijf ick de listen en plagen des Satans. Heer Meiard Man Abt tot Egmond heeft mij gegeven. Casparus en Johannes Moer fecerunt 1525.
Translation in English: (My name is Saviour. When I am rung I mourn over the departed. Through my sound I drive the wiles and pests of Satan away. I was given by Sir Meiard man abbot till Egmond. Casparus and Johannes Moer fecerunt (made me) 1525.)
The carillon under the bourdon has 35 bells. The largest 16 by Melchior de Haze (1688/89) were made for this turret. 12 smaller bells from de Waag (the weigh house) also cast by M. de Haze, and 7 modern bells by Eijsbouts.[3] In 2014 the turret is undergoing restoration; the bell part is by Clock o Matic from Holsbeek Belgium.
Current function
The church is formally owned by the "Stichting Behoud Monumentale Kerken Alkmaar" (foundation for the preservation of heritage churches in Alkmaar), which conducts restoration activities and rents it out for weddings and concerts, but also facilitates various cultural initiatives of the city.[2]
The main part of the church is open to visitors at no charge. There is an admission charge to go into the upper levels and outer viewing areas.
The church is currently home to the Alkmaar Altarpiece.
grote, sint, laurenskerk, alkmaar, grote, sint, laurenskerk, english, great, lawrence, church, landmark, formerly, protestant, church, alkmaar, netherlands, secular, building, located, koorstraat, choir, street, mostly, closed, winter, open, tourists, summer, . Grote or Sint Laurenskerk English Great or St Lawrence church is a landmark formerly Protestant church in Alkmaar Netherlands now in secular use The building is located on the Koorstraat choir street It is mostly closed in the winter and open for tourists in the summer months or by appointment Grote or Sint Laurenskerk Ceiling Grote Kerk Alkmaar Contents 1 History 2 Organs 3 Carillon 4 Current function 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit Organ The Grote Kerk 1470 1498 dedicated to St Lawrence is a handsome building and contains the tomb of Floris V Count of Holland d 1296 a brass of 1546 and some paintings 1507 1 Anna Visscher is buried in this church 2 The church was designed by Anthonius Keldermans c 1440 1512 from a church building family from Mechelen 2 Organs Edit Koororgel Grote Kerk Alkmaar The two organs are world famous The smaller one called the Koororgel choir organ was built in 1511 by Jan van Covelens and is built against the north wall of the church 2 It is the oldest playable organ in the Netherlands The larger organ at the west end of the church is one of the most famous significant and beautiful organs in the world It was built by Jacobus Caltus van Hagerbeer finished in 1645 The magnificent casework which unusually stretches from floor to vault and makes the organ part of the architecture of the church was designed by Jacob van Campen a leading architect of the time The enormous canvas shutters were painted by Caesar van Everdingen 2 The organ was rebuilt in 1723 by Frans Caspar Schnitger 2 He left the casework much as it was but created an organ in the North German style within the old case He reused much of the old fluework but all the mixtures and reeds were new The organ has not been changed much since then and is rare in that 90 percent of the original material pipework action soundboards case survives As such it is one of the most important organs in the world It is the subject of a documentary made in 2013 and released on DVD by Fugue State Films as Alkmaar The Organs of the Laurenskerk Carillon Edit The bourdon bell by C and J Moer cast in 1525 photo c 1900 when the turret was restored The hour bell bourdon was made by Casparus and Johannes Moer in 1525 with a diameter or 130 cm 3 tone Cis1 1950 kg The bell was given by the abbot of the monastery in Egmond near Alkmaar The text on the bell Ick heet Saligmaeker Als ick geluydt word bedrijf ick rou over de dooden Door mijn clanck verdrijf ick de listen en plagen des Satans Heer Meiard Man Abt tot Egmond heeft mij gegeven Casparus en Johannes Moer fecerunt 1525 Translation in English My name is Saviour When I am rung I mourn over the departed Through my sound I drive the wiles and pests of Satan away I was given by Sir Meiard man abbot till Egmond Casparus and Johannes Moer fecerunt made me 1525 The carillon under the bourdon has 35 bells The largest 16 by Melchior de Haze 1688 89 were made for this turret 12 smaller bells from de Waag the weigh house also cast by M de Haze and 7 modern bells by Eijsbouts 3 In 2014 the turret is undergoing restoration the bell part is by Clock o Matic from Holsbeek Belgium Current function EditThe church is formally owned by the Stichting Behoud Monumentale Kerken Alkmaar foundation for the preservation of heritage churches in Alkmaar which conducts restoration activities and rents it out for weddings and concerts but also facilitates various cultural initiatives of the city 2 The main part of the church is open to visitors at no charge There is an admission charge to go into the upper levels and outer viewing areas The church is currently home to the Alkmaar Altarpiece A bar has been added into the southern transept Dutch Rijksmonument 7258 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sint Laurenskerk Alkmaar References Edit Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Alkmaar Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 1 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 686 a b c d e f website Stichting Behoud Monumentale Kerken Alkmaar Historie a b Rijksmonument reportExternal links EditWebsite Stichting Behoud Monumentale Kerken Alkmaar Dutch only Website Vrienden van de Grote Sint Laurenskerk Alkmaar Dutch only Website about documentary about the Laurenskerk organ clip from documentary about the Laurenskerk organ Coordinates 52 37 57 N 4 44 38 E 52 63250 N 4 74389 E 52 63250 4 74389 Bell towers in the Netherlands Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grote or Sint Laurenskerk Alkmaar amp oldid 1105815329, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
