Monuments in Noord-Holland

R. Stenvert en C. Kolman (2006)

Gepubliceerd op 30-03-2018

The Herv church in Velsen

betekenis & definitie

(Kerkplein 1), originally dedicated to St. Paul and later to St. Engelmundus, is a one-aisled church with a tower with tent roof. The tufa part of the north facade of the 12th-century Roman ship remains with three bricked-up round arch windows.

The tufa tower arose around 1200 and was probably raised in the 14th century with a brick floor. The upper part of the tower is equipped with savings fields with lisenen and round arches. The current tent roof dates from 1887. The tower contains a clock from 1687 and a clock cast by Cyprian Crans (1745). Near the tower is a 12th century limestone relief stone.

The church was rebuilt in the late 16th century after being destroyed by the Spaniards in 1573. The old choir and the 15th-century south aisle (bricked-up arches) were then no longer rebuilt. In 1773 the ship was extended in brick and from the 18th century also the Watervliet or Corver Chapel (north side of the ship). The current consistory room (south side) was built during a church restoration in 1966-'69. Furthermore, remnants of the Brederoegraf chapel were found.

The interior is covered by a wooden barrel vault and is equipped with galleries. The eastern gallery shows fragments of a painting from 1773. The West Gallery was built in 1769 by Jacob Gaykema as a seat for orphans. From the Brederode chapel comes the carved gravestone for Willem van Brederode († 1316) and his wife Elsbee van Kleef. In the cemetery are some late-19th-century Englishmen who have contributed to the construction of the North Sea Canal.