St. Joseph, Leiden

St. Joseph Church is the largest Roman Catholic parish church still in use in Leiden in the diocese of Rotterdam. It is also called the Herensingelkerk, because it is situated at the street called Herensingel. The church is a national heritage site and one of the tallest buildings in the centre of Leiden.

St. Joseph's Church
Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Joseph's Church
Onze Lieve Vrouwe Hemelvaart en Sint Joseph (Dutch)
Main facade of St. Joseph Church
52°09′49″N 4°30′06″E
LocationLeiden
CountryNetherlands
DenominationRoman Catholic
TraditionLatin Rite
WebsiteSt. Joseph Leiden
History
Dedication
Consecrated17 September 1925
Architecture
Architect(s)
StyleExpressionism
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Rotterdam
ParishSt. Peter and Paul
Clergy
Bishop(s)Hans van den Hende
Priest(s)Jeroen Smith

History

The church was built in 1925 and designed by the architects Leo and Jan van der Laan in an expressionistic style related to the New Hague School. In 1934 the nearby Assumption of Mary Church in Leiden was closed and merged with the St. Joseph. From that moment the church is officially named Our Lady Assumption and Saint Joseph.[1]

Building

The nave is relatively wide with the purpose to give al participants a clear view on the altar. The narrow aisles show stations of the Cross painted in 1943 by Wijnand Geraedts which also include an extra scene with the Ascension of Jesus.[2] The apse is dominated by a fresco painted in 1931 by Alex Asperslagh in Jugendstil style, depicting the Trinity.[3] The pneumatic organ is from 1929 by Valckx & Van Kouteren.[4] The wooden altar contains relics of Saint Boniface and the martyrs of Gorkum.[5] The left chapel is dedicated to Padre Pio and contains a statue of his.

Interior
  • Nave and apse
    Nave and apse
  • Altar and apse
    Altar and apse
  • Stations of the Cross
    Stations of the Cross
  • Padre Pio chapel
    Padre Pio chapel
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References
  1. Leidsche Courant (23 April 1934), De St. Josephparochie te Leiden opgeheven
  2. Leidsche Courant (4 May 1955), Leiden tussen overval en bevrijding
  3. Leidsche Courant (18 December 1931), De schildering in de St. Josephkerk te Leiden
  4. Het Orgel, jrg. 26, no. 6, 46.
  5. Leidsche Courant (25 November 1968), Nieuw altaar Herensingelkerk
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