The Reformed Church (Hervormde Kerk)
Uelsen
The reformed church is the oldest building at Uelsen and the famous landmark
of the village. The lower parts of the 52 m high church tower are Romance,
the nave and the west-portal are Gothic. The origins of the christian
faith at Uelsen date back to the 7th century. Willibrord, the future archbishop
of Utrecht (the Netherlands), passed the Uelsen area in the year 690.
One of his attendands was a monk called Werenfrid. He is said to have
founded the parish of Uelsen. The catchment area of the Church is told
to have reached from Emlichheim to the outskirts of Nordhorn. By the document
of the year 1131 the church was subordinated to the St. Petri dignitaries
at Utrecht. This document is the first one mentioning the presence of
the Uelsen settlement. After the Reformation, Uelsen became Reformed in
1588. The altar, the crucifix and the portaits were removed from the church.
Henceforth only the heralding of the words of God were to characterize
the services.
On Feb 17, 1683 a flash of lightning destroyed the steeple. The bells
melted and fell down through the vaults. As a substitute a small bell
was bought at Amsterdam some weeks later. This 127-pound bell now hangs
in the small bell tower of the new town hall today. Of art-historical
interest are the stalls and the pulpit. The pulpit has got old-dutch epigraphs
such as DIE TO DER DORE HENINGEIT DIE IS IEN HERDER DE SCHAPE (Who enters
this door is a herdsman of the sheep). Until the ninetees of the 19th
century the sermon has been held in dutch language, and not before 1917
the hyms were started to be sung in German.
A characteristic of the reformed service is the psalm hym. The sermon
is seen the most important part of the service. The parish is formative
influenced by the emphasis of the Words of God and the lesson (confirmation
not before an age of 16/17). Around 6500 people belong to the Reformed
Church of Uelsen.
Listen to the bells (MP3 128 kbit/s
Stereo, 196 kB)
Reformed Church Uelsen, Am Markt, 49843 Uelsen
| Services: |
Sunday 8.45 am and 10.30 am |
| Children's service: |
Sunday 10.30 am |
| Rectory (also pastoral care for vacationers): |
Wedekindshof 9, 49843 Uelsen, Tel. 05942 / 914693 |
Egge
By building a small church at Egge in the year 1903 the Reformed parish
has accounted for its geographical extension. Idyllic and surrounded by
tall oaks the church lies 9 km from Uelsen and 3 km from Itterbeck.
It has 250 seats. The organ dates from 1960. In 1967 a youth center was
attached to the church. It has been renovated and extended in 1982. The
confirmation classes are being held weekly for all three age groups during
the winter terms. The church is being looked after by the parish of Uelsen.
Reformed Church Egge, Ringstraße, 49847 Egge
| Services: |
Sunday 10.15 am |
| Children's Service: |
Sunday 10.15 am |
| Rectory: |
see Uelsen |
Wilsum
The Reformed parish of Wilsum has got approximately 1200 members. The
rural community lies straight in the heart of the Niedergrafschaft (lower
county). The Reformed Christians see themselves as mediators of the Reformers
Calvin and Zwingli. These Reformers wished to see the Church taken off
all glamour and being built solely upon the basis of the Lord. Accordingly,
the services are markedly plain and the church building is of austere
beauty. Rhyme psalms are being held in great esteem for the purpose of
the sungen praise. Guests are welcomed anytime, not only for attending
a service but also for visiting the church building.
Reformed Church Wilsum, In der Stadt 1, 49849 Wilsum
| Services: |
Sunday 10.00 am (1. and 3. Sunday also 8.45 am) |
| Children's Service |
Sunday 10.00 am |
| Children's care center: |
1. Sunday of every month 10.00 am |
| Rectory: |
In der Stadt 1, 49849 Wilsum, Tel. 05945 / 210 |
|
