Hannah's Adventures in Europe: Haven Kerk

One of the surprising things that I got to see when I was at the Schiedam Openmonument dag was the Haven Kerk. It is completely closed now, while going through some (much needed) restorations. But it was open when I went and they had displays up detailing the restoration process and the guys who were doing the restoration were there answering questions about what they had to do to make the church safe and sound. The Haven Kerk (Port Church) is right on one of the main canals through town.

When I went into the church, it was very cool (which was nice because it was a warmish day out) and it also had a really familiar smell. At first I couldn't think what it was and then I realized that it smelled just like the basement at Temple Baptist, and it had that same cool, unused feeling.

This is the plaque about the church that is set outside the front door. Note that it was built in a "neo-classical style with a neo-baroque interior".

This was the first view of the sanctuary. Even without the pews, and with looking kind of ratty up close, this is a pretty spectacular view.

This is what you would call a real pulpit. If you notice the lady in the lower left corner, you will get an idea of the scale. The lowest edges of the railings are about chin high. This is a rear/side view because the sun was coming through the windows right behind the pulpit and none of my pictures turned out from the front. If you notice the figures at the front of the pulpit they are slightly larger than life size.

There is a historic organ in the church.

This is the confessional. The little old lady was entertaining. I kept waiting for her to move so I could get a clearer shot but she seemed so interested in it that I decided to just included her. She was peering through the bars and ducking around looking under the signs and trying to get a better view. The pictures that are on the fence are of other Dutch churches that have had similar restorations and which they were using as inspiration for this project.

This is the left side of the church. There are four separate creches here.
Although, it is worth noting that, in Dutch, creche doesn't just mean scene of
mother and child, especially of Jesus and Mary, it also means, and is used
frequently for, a nursery. So church bulletins mention who is playing the organ
and who is serving in the creche. When I first saw that notation, I was, seriously,
looking around the church trying to find the Manger Scene and wondering why
the church started its Christmas celebrations so early.

This is the right side of the church. The painting, I think, is the scene were
Simeon sees the baby Jesus at that temple.

This is the front of the church. The inscription on the crown, above the scene where Jesus is crowning his mother Mary, says "To God Alone be Honor and Glory."

The church had stained-glass windows that depicted all of the apostles. It also had apostles/significant early Christian figures in statues that must have been at least three feet tall, stuck to all of the pillars through the sanctuary.

<---Andrew--Ben, you should notice his cross which is the basis for Scotland's flag.

Bartholomew--I am a little curious about what that curvy knife signifies.--->

These are both labeled St. Jacobus--that is to say, James.

<---Before I saw the label on this one, I assumed that it was supposed to be a statue of Jesus. I am assuming, then, that this must be James the brother of Jesus and that the artist was going for a family resemblance.

Which would make this one the James that wasn't Jesus's brother--->