Protestant church of Rinsumageast
Encyclopedia
The Protestant church of Rinsumageast or Saint Alexander’s church is a religious building in Rinsumageast, Netherlands
, one of the many medieval churches in Friesland
.
The construction of the for the most part tuff
stone Romanesque church started in the 11th century. The semicircular choir was built in the 12th century followed by the nave
and the tower dates from the 13th century. Under the choir is a crypt, uniek for the north of the Nederlands. The church was enlarged in ca. 1525 with the replacement of the southern aisle
by a new one.
The monumental Pipe organ
was built in 1892 by Bakker & Timmenga.
The church is located on the Juckemaweg 3 and was once a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Alexander
but became a Protestant church after the Protestant reformation
.
It is listed as a Rijksmonument
, number 11691 and is rated with a very high historical value.
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...
, one of the many medieval churches in Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
.
The construction of the for the most part tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
stone Romanesque church started in the 11th century. The semicircular choir was built in the 12th century followed by the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and the tower dates from the 13th century. Under the choir is a crypt, uniek for the north of the Nederlands. The church was enlarged in ca. 1525 with the replacement of the southern aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
by a new one.
The monumental Pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
was built in 1892 by Bakker & Timmenga.
The church is located on the Juckemaweg 3 and was once a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Alexander
Saint Alexander
Saint Alexander may refer to:*Pope Alexander I , saint and pope*See Epipodius and Alexander for Saint Alexander, martyred in Lyon, 178 AD*Alexander of Bergamo , patron saint of Bergamo; may have been a Roman soldier...
but became a Protestant church after the Protestant 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...
.
It is listed as a Rijksmonument
Rijksmonument
A rijksmonument is a National Heritage Site of the Netherlands, listed by the agency Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed acting for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.-History and criteria:...
, number 11691 and is rated with a very high historical value.