Martinikerk (Groningen)

The Reformed Martinikerk is the oldest church in the Dutch city of Groningen.

History

Archaeological several predecessors of Martinikerk are detected. A wooden church was built around 800, which was probably replaced by a construction of tufa in the early 10th century. In the first half of the 13th century, a cross basilica was built in the Romanesque-Gothic transition style in their place. This church is depicted on the town seal of 1245. In the early 15th century began a thoroughgoing Gothic reconstruction of the whole system. After the construction of the choir with ambulatory the nave was expanded as a hall church. 1468 collapsed the old church tower, the nave was damaged. The building was extended to the west. A new tower was built 1469-1482.

The first phase of the famous organ of Martinikerk goes back to 1450 and 1482. Your present appearance owes the extensions by Arp Schnitger (1692 ), his son Franz Caspar Schnitger ( 1729 ) and Albertus Antonius Hinsz ( 1740).

In 1559 the Episcopal Church of the new diocese Martinikerk Groningen, which was disbanded in 1594 during the Reformation. 1611 the commander of the fort States Groningen, John Corputius was buried in the chancel of the church. Corputius was a member of the Calvinist faith and had fought for Maurice of Orange and William Louis of Nassau in the Eighty Years' War.

In the 17th century, the roofscape of the church was greatly altered during renovations. This measure was reversed also due to design flaws in the 1970s.

The Martinikerk today weekdays mainly used by the University. On Sundays and public holidays, it is still used for worship purposes.