Nov. 17, 2008 issue
Historic Singelkerk restored as Dutch congregation turns 400
By Jan GleysteenPage:
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AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands — For most of the summer, scaffolding outside the historic Singelkerk was draped with an enormous four-story banner proclaiming: “400 years of Mennonites on the Singel.”
A banner draped over scaffolding outside the Singelkerk proclaims, “400 years of Mennonites on the Singel.”
During its 400th anniversary year, the Singelkerk — the historic center of Mennonitism in Amsterdam — is undergoing a massive restoration and preservation project.
This includes the repointing of brickwork, the installation of an elevator — a difficult and somewhat controversial undertaking in such a historic edifice — and the transformation of a loft space into a multifunctional space.
The 18th-century ceiling is being restored, in the words of the contractor, “to preserve the historic beauty of the past, while making it conform to the safety and environmental standards of the future.”
Anabaptist activity showed up in Amsterdam around 1531 and was met with the brutal force of the Catholic rulers of the then-Spanish Netherlands.
Not until 1578 did the followers of Menno become a reluctantly tolerated group. Only then did the various groups of Anabaptists begin to think of building their hidden churches.
In 1607 a Mennonite cloth merchant, Harmen Hendriksz van Warendorp, bought a large lot between the Koningsgracht (King’s Canal), better known as the Singel, and the Heerengracht (Gentleman’s Canal). He built houses along both canals.
Then, in 1608, he used the courtyard space between them to build a wooden meetinghouse to accommodate the Flemish Anabaptists to which he belonged. This meetinghouse became known as the church “Bij’t Lam” (near the Lamb), not named after the Lamb of God but rather after the adjacent brewery named The Lamb.
Two of the later Mennonite meetinghouses in the city were known as “De Zon” (the Sun) and “de Toren” (the Tower).
In 1639 the old wooden structure was replaced by the present, more spacious, Singelkerk. This larger space was needed because the Flemish were uniting with the Frisian and the High German branches of the Anabaptist movement. Their first union service on April 26, 1639, attended by some 3,000 people, is said to have lasted five hours.
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Comments
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I find it fascinating that the Singlekerk had the practice of allowing members to pay for seats, while relegating poorer members and orphans to the balcony.
I remembered how James in his letter tells us true religion is to care for orphans. He then specifically addresses seating in the congregation based on class, in chapter 2:1-4: "My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’, have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?"
Lest I seem to be too hard on our Dutch historical kindred in faith, I wonder how we in our churches today judge people based on their financial resources. Perhaps it is not in seating, but rather in other ways we worship and have fellowship.
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I also found it interesting that a Mennonite church in Amsterdam charged for seating. I'd be interested in reading more history on this practice, but incidentally, I do know that in early America, this was a common practice, to pay an annual fee for a pew or "box". First Church in Philadelphia is an example. And I believe the Evangelical Free Church is called that, not out of some inspiring spiritual freedom, but simply because members didn't have to pay to sit in the service. Many modern synagogues also have yearly membership fees.
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I live in Amsterdam and Los Angeles (about 6 months a year each, for nearly 20 years) and have been to the Singelkerk on several occasions. It is indeed, a beautiful building and a special church community. As for the orphans and others in the balcony, I've found it to be a very nice place to sit - the acoustics are better for hearing the wonderful organ. Regarding the "paying for a seat" Brother Gierschick is correct in my view, and as a synagogue member in Los Angeles, my wife and I are quite accustomed for paying a specific fee for our membership/seat.
The article was excellent.
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Glad to hear the thoughts and experiences of others. I wondered whether in some Mennonite churches an annual pledge could serve the same purpose as a membership fee, or even a fee for a specific seat. Yet most Mennonite churches I know, including my own, would encourage pledges but at least aim not to restrict any membership activities based on what someone could pay, or give members privileges over attendees during services and fellowship. I was familiar with many synagogues having membership fees, but wasn't sure whether it is generally the same amount, or if allowances would be made for lower income members. And I've always appreciated the understanding that Jewish believers do not talk about money during synagogue services. Perhaps that has some effect on easing class differences in the congregation.
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