Pancratiuskerk
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The Pancratiuskerk is a Roman Catholic church in Heerlen in the Netherlands.
[edit] History
Although no written sources about the origin of the church are known, a comparative study (including among others Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek in Maastricht) concludes that building started in the first half of the 12th century [1].
It is believed that the building was commissioned by the counts of Ahr-Hochstaden in the Rhineland, then the lords of Heerlen [2].
The current bell tower was built in 1394, and for the size of the church at that time was of a relatively heavy construction. The tower served as part of the defense mechanism for the Landsfort Herle.
From 1632 till 1836 the Pancratiuskerk served as a church for both Catholics and Protestants. The Protestants obtained their own church in 1836 and the arrangement ended.[3].
A stair tower, located on the south side of the bell tower was built in 1862 [4].
Between 1901 and 1903 Joseph Cuypers renovated and enlarged the church. The choir was demolished and replaced by a new eastern part, with a transept, crossing tower and a new choir, all in neo-romanesque style and using marl stone[5].
Frits Peutz, best known for the Glaspaleis located on the same square, supervised the repair of war damage between 1945 and 1948 [6].
In 1960 a sacristy and a baptistry were built on the south side[7].
The current interior is a mixture of an interior created by Pierre Cuypers in 1880 and a modernisation of 1969. Frescoes created by Charles Eyck decorate parts of the ceiling[8].
The stained glass windows dating from between 1947 until the 1960s was created by Eugène Laudy and include Saint Nicholas, Saint Andrew, Saint Barbara, and Saint Servatius [9].
[edit] Architectural features
The building is a triple-aisled cruciform church in the Romanesque style.
[edit] References
