Exmorra Church, Exmorra, Netherlands

The church of Exmorra is a small one-aisled church from the 13th century. In ca. 1300 the nave was lengthened and a tower was added. Of this tower, which collapsed in 1836, only the lower part remains. That same year the wooden tower and the western facade were built. Until the church was restored in 1963-1966 it was covered with a thick coat of plaster, underneath which many traces of its original Romanesque condition had been preserved. The big windows in the nave were replaced by smaller ones on the north side. On this side the wall has a peculiar curve. In the south wall thelarger windows, which are probably from the 19th century, remained.

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User Reviews

Aly Wijbenga (9 months ago)
To sing! In unison. Top!

Jantsje Westra (10 months ago)
In 2018 we were allowed to perform the beautiful project "Titus Words Will Take Wing" with the Frysk Fanfare Orchestra in this special church. In February 2020 we will carry out the project "Frisia meets Anglia, at 5 ft distance" in the Martini Church. A beautiful space in terms of concerts with special acoustics. We're looking forward to it!

Hans van Beusichem (10 months ago)
In this church we sounded our songs. I can start to long for the normal more and more

Paul de Vos (10 months ago)
This week a live TV broadcast organized from the Martini Church in Bolsward. Particularly surprised by the professional and adequate guidance by the manager of the Martini Church and the manager of the associated Convent. Very flexible (nothing was too much), clear and very fast in answering questions. Recommended as an event location!

Pjotter (3 years ago)
Good!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Martin M. Miles

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Abbey of Saint-Étienne

The Abbey of Saint-Etienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes ('Men"s Abbey'), is a former monastery dedicated to Saint Stephen (Saint Étienne). It is considered, along with the neighbouring Abbaye aux Dames ('Ladies" Abbey'), to be one of the most notable Romanesque buildings in Normandy. Like all the major abbeys in Normandy, it was Benedictine.

Lanfranc, before being an Archbishop of Canterbury, was abbot of Saint-Etienne. Built in Caen stone during the 11th century, the two semi-completed churches stood for many decades in competition. An important feature added to both churches in about 1120 was the ribbed vault, used for the first time in France. The two abbey churches are considered forerunners of the Gothic architecture. The original Romanesque apse was replaced in 1166 by an early Gothic chevet, complete with rosette windows and flying buttresses. Nine towers and spires were added in the 13th century. The interior vaulting shows a similar progression, beginning with early sexpartite vaulting (using circular ribs) in the nave and progressing to quadipartite vaults (using pointed ribs) in the sanctuary.

The two monasteries were finally donated by William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda of Flanders, as penalty for their marriage against the Pope"s ruling. William was buried here; Matilda was buried in the Abbaye aux Dames. Unfortunately William"s original tombstone of black marble, the same kind as Matilda"s in the Abbaye aux Dames, was destroyed by the Calvinist iconoclasts in the 16th century and his bones scattered.

As a consequence of the Wars of Religion, the high lantern tower in the middle of the church collapsed and was never rebuilt. The Benedictine abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution and the abbey church became a parish church. From 1804 to 1961, the abbey buildings accommodated a prestigious high school, the Lycée Malherbe. During the Normandy Landings in 1944, inhabitants of Caen found refuge in the church; on the rooftop there was a red cross, made with blood on a sheet, to show that it was a hospital (to avoid bombings).

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