Nederlands Hervormde Kerk Garmerwolde. - Medieval Churches on Waymarking.com

People started to live in this area in the 9th century. At the location that is now the village Garmerwolde, small hills were made to keep the feet dry in this wet area. The cultivations started in the 9th or 10th century.

Apparently, only a few centuries later so much prosperity was generated, that the inhabitants were able to build a church of bricks. Probably a wooden predecesor was then broken down. These bricks were an expensive material for building. People needed quite some money for building this church. The building was started around 1250, using a style we now call romano-gothic. Fortunately, this church and the tower are still present, although part of it has been broken down halfway the 10th century, because it became too crumbling. The remains are found at the coordinates shown above.

It is very special that the tower has always been at some distance from the church. The reason for this could be the soft ground. If the tower is separated from the church, the risk is smaller that the church subsides due to the weight of the tower.

In the first half of the 15th century the frescos inside the church were painted. It is really worthwile to have a look at them. During the weekends in the summer the churches is usually open. In other cases there is a note at the gate which tells where the key can be requested.

The old graves are special as well because of the verses. This distinguishes Groningen from the other regions in the Netherlands. A very special grave verse is found inside the church. It is written on the stone of Harmannus Sebastiani who died 95 years old. He has had 6 wifes, who all died before him:

The church and the tower had a central place in those old village communities. Therefore, that was also the place to display the time which brought order in their lifes. A clock was placed in the tower. The bell was heard in times of disasters, mourning or joy. For different signals different bells were used. The massive sound of the largest bell was used to call the believers from far over the fields to the services in the church. Both the clock and the bells were the property both of the church as well as of the village. Only the very rich people had their own clock. The church clock was really a clock of the village. This clock seems to be of a very old age. Garmerwolde has had the fortune that three quarters of the church as well as the tower as well as the clock have survived.

Building Materials: Brick

Visit Instructions:
Logs for Medieval churches waymark must contain a date found and any details about the visit there. Also photos and other experiences related to the building are welcome.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   04/14/2017 Harko72 visited it 09/09/2014 Benerij visited it 07/20/2011 Oosterlengtes visited it

View all visits/logs