Classic Catholicism. St Anthony's Cathedral, Breda, The Netherlands
In 1637 the Habsburg city of Breda definitively fell into the hands of the young Dutch Republic, forerunner of today's The Netherlands. This political turn also meant a change of religion: Protestantism now became the norm. The Church of Our Lady - Grote Kerk - of Breda was divested of Catholicism, and Catholic worship in general was officially frowned upon for at least the next two centuries.
After the Napoleontic Wars and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands early in the nineteenth century, expression of the Catholic faith was under less pressure. In 1837 Pieter Huijsers (1781-1848) with subsidy from the Dutch government built St Anthony's in the then fashionable neo-classical style: in local terms this is a 'waterstaatskerk'. When the Catholic Hierarchy was finally restored in 1853, the church became Breda's cathedral. Though the bishop's see was changed several times down through the years, St Anthony's has recently again become the bishopric's cathedral.
This view is of the romantic organ built by the firm of François-Bernard Loret of Malines, Belgium, in 1858. It was restored and rebuilt by the Dutch firm of Maarschalkerweerd in 1916.
Regrettably we didn't hear it play; but there was good music from the choir...
Classic Catholicism. St Anthony's Cathedral, Breda, The Netherlands
In 1637 the Habsburg city of Breda definitively fell into the hands of the young Dutch Republic, forerunner of today's The Netherlands. This political turn also meant a change of religion: Protestantism now became the norm. The Church of Our Lady - Grote Kerk - of Breda was divested of Catholicism, and Catholic worship in general was officially frowned upon for at least the next two centuries.
After the Napoleontic Wars and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands early in the nineteenth century, expression of the Catholic faith was under less pressure. In 1837 Pieter Huijsers (1781-1848) with subsidy from the Dutch government built St Anthony's in the then fashionable neo-classical style: in local terms this is a 'waterstaatskerk'. When the Catholic Hierarchy was finally restored in 1853, the church became Breda's cathedral. Though the bishop's see was changed several times down through the years, St Anthony's has recently again become the bishopric's cathedral.
This view is of the romantic organ built by the firm of François-Bernard Loret of Malines, Belgium, in 1858. It was restored and rebuilt by the Dutch firm of Maarschalkerweerd in 1916.
Regrettably we didn't hear it play; but there was good music from the choir...