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Building History

Buiding History Sint-Janskerk

St. John’s church was built in the 13th century (or earlier still) as a court chapel within the court building complex of the Heren van der Goude (Lords of Gouda) further consisting of a residential building and a keep. The court chapel had been constructed of brick stone in a single space without transepts. This chapel was placed between the current tower and there where the church currently widens. Nothing can be traced back of this chapel. In 1278 the chapel got its parish church function.



Round 1300 the chapel was enlarged with two transepts. Of this extension one capital survives.
It is placed to the right of the organ against the façade of the northern transept.



Around 1350 the western tower was constructed. Of this phase the brick stones are still visible in the lower embrasure of the tower.



Around 1390 at the back of the existing church a gothic hall choir with one main vessel and two aisles was built. Towards the end the 14th century permission was asked from bishop Frederic van Blankenheim to demolish the derelict old church. This involved the old court chapel with its extension. When this permission came in 1404, the old chapel was replaced by the tree aisle hall church. This church was consecrated in 1413. 

 

In 1438 a fire raged in town, but the church could quickly be repaired. The size in that hall church between the pillars was about half the size of the current church. Between each of the current pillars there used to be an extra pillar. One could say there was a wood of pillars topped by pointed arches. Of this hall church remnants survive and the exterior facades. The lower base of the brick facades as well as the porches in the northern- and southwesterly parts date from 1404. Around 1470 again a lack of space, due to the ever growing amount of altars, resulted in an extension of two extra side aisles and a transept.



In 1485 this was followed by the building of the present-day choir and a clerestory. After the completion it was decided to rebuild the outer, only forty-year-old, into transept chapels with pitched roofs. With it, the building master cancelled the second pillar between the inward and outward aisles. This resulted in the present-day wide arch size.
On January, 12th 1552, lightning struck the tower and the church suffered a major blaze, leaving only little left. During the major rebuilding job building master Cornelis Frederikszn doubled the size between the remaining columns, resulting in a remarkable sense of space in the church.

In 1590 the heightening of the main vessel was started, using the rubble of the demolished Maria Magdalena monastery. At that time the municipal windows were placed. As a result of the heightening of the main aisle the tower had to be raised too. This took place shortly after 1600. 

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the interior was mainly focused upon. During the entire 20th century repair works have been going on. 

(Bron: Bianca vd Berg)

 

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