The Sint-Joriskerk

The Sint-Joriskerk is a church located in the town of Heumen, Netherlands. The church was built in the 14th century and has undergone several renovations and expansions over the centuries.

In the 15th century, it was granted to the Brothers of the Common Life, a group of Catholic priests who were dedicated to preaching and serving the poor. In the 16th century, the church was renovated in the Gothic style, which gave it its current shape.

• The Sint-Joriskerk is named after Saint George (Sint-Joris in Dutch), who is considered the patron saint of the city of Utrecht, where the church is located. However, it's not clear why a church in Heumen would be named after St. George instead of another saint.

In 1425, the church was granted to the Brothers of the Common Life, a group of Catholic priests who were dedicated to preaching and serving the poor. During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, the church became a prominent cultural and social hub in Heumen. It hosted concerts, theater performances, and other events that were popular among the local aristocracy.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the church underwent several restorations to repair damage caused by weather, fires, and other natural disasters. Today, the Sint-Joriskerk is a beloved landmark in Heumen and an important part of the town's cultural heritage. It continues to serve as a place of worship and community gathering for locals and visitors alike.

History

1. In the 12th century, there was a chapel in Heumen that belonged to the abbey church in Overasselt. This chapel was used by monks from the Abbey of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme who owned the St. Walrick region.
2. The management was in the hands of the lords of Heumen. The chapel was dedicated to Saint George and was expanded into a church in the 15th century.

In 1615, the church became Protestant and several adjustments were made to the building. It is a late Gothic church with a single-aisled nave, a closed choir, and small side chapels. The church has a slender tower with a high pointed spire. The bell tower contains two bells, one made by François Hemony in 1662 and one made by J. Franssen in 1702.

Inside the church is a monument from 1891 made by Franciscus Leonardus Stracké for Lodewijk and Hendrik van Nassau who died in 1574 during the Battle of Mookerheide. Already their brother Willem of Orange had ordered that a memorial monument be placed in the Protestant church nearest to the battlefield.

A plaque from 1939 is attached to the exterior wall, made by Jac Maris, to commemorate the deployment of the first battalion of the 26th Infantry Regiment of the Grenadier Corps at the Heumense bridge and sluice, where heavy fighting took place during the German invasion in 1940.

The organ dates back to 1977 and was made by the firm Verschueren. There is also a small cemetery next to the church with a natural stone cross from 1541 that is also a national monument.