Cunerakerk (Rhenen)
Encyclopedia
The Cunerakerk is the main church of Rhenen
, Netherlands
. The church is large because in the Middle Ages it was an important pilgrimage
. In the church were stored the relics of the Saint Cunera since the 8th century. The tower has a height of 81.8 meters.
(before 11th century). In the 11th century the church was dedicated to Saint Cunera. A legend tells about her stay at the court of king Radboud in Rhenen
. The church was built and enlarged in the 15th century. The tower was built from 1492 until 1531 and it's design is inspirated by the Domtoren in Utrecht
.
Since the Reformation
in 1580 the Cunerachurch is in use by the Protestants. The relics of Cunera are spread since then.
The church has often been damaged. In 1897 the tower burned and a restoration was done with a different spire (designed by Pierre Cuypers
). During the next restoration in 1934 the roof burned down and during restoration of the roof a section collapsed. In 1940 the tower and church were damaged by war, and in 1945 it was again heavily damaged by the war. The building material used for subsequent repairs was so bad that in 1968 restoration of the tower was necessary again.
of the choir is build in 1550 in renaissance
style. It is one of the few Rood screens still existing in the Netherlands. The rood screen is decorated with allegoric images of the three theological virtues
Faith
, hope
en love
. Part of the sculpture is gone.
The choir stalls are cut in 1570.
Rhenen
Rhenen is a municipality and a city in the central Netherlands.The municipality also includes the villages of Achterberg, Remmerden, Elst and Laareind. The town lies at a geographically interesting location, namely on the southernmost part of the chain of hills known as the Utrecht Hill Ridge ,...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The church is large because in the Middle Ages it was an important pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
. In the church were stored the relics of the Saint Cunera since the 8th century. The tower has a height of 81.8 meters.
History
The first church on site was dedicated to PetrusSaint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
(before 11th century). In the 11th century the church was dedicated to Saint Cunera. A legend tells about her stay at the court of king Radboud in Rhenen
Rhenen
Rhenen is a municipality and a city in the central Netherlands.The municipality also includes the villages of Achterberg, Remmerden, Elst and Laareind. The town lies at a geographically interesting location, namely on the southernmost part of the chain of hills known as the Utrecht Hill Ridge ,...
. The church was built and enlarged in the 15th century. The tower was built from 1492 until 1531 and it's design is inspirated by the Domtoren in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
.
Since the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in 1580 the Cunerachurch is in use by the Protestants. The relics of Cunera are spread since then.
The church has often been damaged. In 1897 the tower burned and a restoration was done with a different spire (designed by Pierre Cuypers
Pierre Cuypers
Petrus Josephus Hubertus Cuypers was a Dutch architect. His name is most frequently associated with the Amsterdam Central Station and the Rijksmuseum , both in Amsterdam. More representative for his oeuvre, however, are numerous churches, of which he designed more than 100...
). During the next restoration in 1934 the roof burned down and during restoration of the roof a section collapsed. In 1940 the tower and church were damaged by war, and in 1945 it was again heavily damaged by the war. The building material used for subsequent repairs was so bad that in 1968 restoration of the tower was necessary again.
Interior
The Rood screenRood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
of the choir is build in 1550 in renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
style. It is one of the few Rood screens still existing in the Netherlands. The rood screen is decorated with allegoric images of the three theological virtues
Theological virtues
Theological virtues - in theology and Christian philosophy, are the character qualities associated with salvation, resulting from the grace of God, which enlightens human mind.- In the Bible :The three theological virtues are:...
Faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
, hope
Hope (virtue)
Hope is one of the three theological virtues in Christian tradition. Hope being a combination of the desire for something and expectation of receiving it, the virtue is hoping for Divine union and so eternal happiness...
en love
Charity (virtue)
In Christian theology charity, or love , means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others.The term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.- Caritas: altruistic love :...
. Part of the sculpture is gone.
The choir stalls are cut in 1570.