Janskerk, Gouda
The Sint Janskerk (Eng. " St. John's Church " ) in the Dutch Gouda is a Gothic, five-aisled cross basilica dedicated to John the Baptist, the patron saint of Gouda.
The church is at 123 m in length, the longest church in the Netherlands. The Sint Janskerk is mainly for its Gouda glass window (nl: glazen de Gouda ) is known. Here, about half of all glass windows are located from the 16th century, have been preserved in the Netherlands. The most famous, Dutch glass painter Dirck Crabeth their time and be 15 years younger brother Wouter Crabeth created 1555-1577 ten and four of the glass window.
History
Little is known about an earlier building dating from 1280. After the church was already heavily damaged by fire in 1361, it was destroyed again in 1438 by a city fire. 1485 began with the reconstruction. First, the choir was built, which was inaugurated in 1510. In 1552, the church tower was hit by lightning and the church again affected. 1555 the first glass window (No. 15, see overview) was used, which was created by Dirck Crabeth. Over the next 20 years, about two dozen other glass windows were made and used. From Dirck Crabeth (around 1505-1574 ) and his workshop was at this time ten glass windows (number: 6, 7, 14-16, 18, 22, 24, 30 and 31 see Table ) created. Another four windows ( No: 5, 8, 12 and 23) are attributed to his brother Wouter ( 1520-1589 ). In 1573 the church was Protestant. It removed many of the 45 altars, among other things, the stained glass windows, however, remained largely unaffected. In the years 1590-1593 the nave was built higher, which the church had the shape of a cross basilica. The church was last restored in 1964 to 1980.
Building and interior decoration
The church is at 123 m in length, the longest church in the Netherlands and one of the largest churches in Europe. The church is in the transept about 53 meters wide and has an inner height of 25 meters. An interior the church received in 1782 the choir screen and 1810 the pulpit and the Taufgitter. 1853, the banks were set up in the form in which they are still to be found today.
In the church there are many grave plates and at least five chapels ( see floor plan ):
- A. Van Beverningh Chapel - South of the choir.
- B. The Cool Chapel - North of the choir under glass window 11
- C. The grave chapel W. van Meurs - In the vicinity of glass windows 8
- D. The grave vault Van der Dussen - Close of window glass 1
- - The Van der Vorm Chapel - access under glass window 14
The bell tower is a carillon, which is derived in part from the bell foundry Peter Hermony.
Gouda glass window
For the numbering of the glass window, see the floor plan above. sources:
( This stained glass window was composed of glass shards that are left over from previous restorations )
(composed of old broken glass resulting from repairs)
( The glass window 58 to 64 are originally from the church of the monastery Regulate (stone at Haastrecht ) and 1581 were used in the Sint Janskerk. )
Organ
The church has two organs. In the chancel, on the north side of the choir enclosure, there is a small instrument that was made in 1975 by the organ builders Leeflang and Keyzer. On the west gallery is a large Baroque organ, built 1732-1736 by the organ builder Jean François Moreau ( Rotterdam). The instrument has 53 stops on three manuals and pedal.
Since the church has excellent acoustics, organ concerts and other musical performances are held here regularly.