The Broerkerk in

Groningen Groningen ( , ; ; or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen (province), Groningen province in the Netherlands. Dubbed the "capital of the north", Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of ...

, Netherlands, was a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

church connected to the

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...

cloister A cloister (from Latin , "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open Arcade (architecture), arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle (architecture), quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cat ...

in Groningen. The church was situated in the Broerstraat in Groningen. The Broerkerk was the first church in the town used by the Protestants. In 1702 Arp Schnitger built an organ for the Broerekerk in Groningen. For the organ he used pipe-work from the previous instrument built by Hendrick Hermans van Loon in 1679. In 1815 the organ was moved by J.W. Timpe to the Der Aa-kerk because the Broerkerk/Academiekerk had to be restored to the

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

Church. After the city joined the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, the church became the church of the

University of Groningen The University of Groningen (abbreviated as UG; , abbreviated as RUG) is a Public university#Continental Europe, public research university of more than 30,000 students in the city of Groningen (city), Groningen, Netherlands. Founded in 1614, th ...

(1614).dodenakkers.nl
In the 19th century the church was given back to the Roman Catholics. The church was in such a bad condition that the decision was taken to demolish it. The remains of the buried bodies found in and around the church were reburied at the Roman Catholic churchyard in town. In 1895 a new church was built on the same site as the former Broerkerk. The new church was named Sint Martinuskerk. {{Infobox church , name = St. Martinuskerk , fullname = , image = Martinus5.jpg , imagesize = 250 , landscape = , caption = St. Martinuskerk (1982) , location =

Groningen (city) Groningen ( , ; ; or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen (province), Groningen province in the Netherlands. Dubbed the "capital of the north", Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of ...

Groningen (province) Groningen ( , ; ; ; ) is the northeasternmost provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands. It borders on Friesland to the west, Drenthe to the south, the Germany, German state of Lower Saxony to the east, and the Wadden Sea to th ...

, country = Netherlands , coordinates = , denomination = , previous denomination = , churchmanship = , membership = , attendance = , website = , former name = , bull date = , founded date = , founder = , dedication = , dedicated date = , consecrated date = , cult = , relics = , events = , past bishop = , people = , status = Demolished , functional status = , heritage designation = , designated date = 1895 , architect = P.J.H. Cuypers , architectural type = Church , style = Neogothic , groundbreaking = , completed date = 1895 , construction cost = , closed date = , demolished date = 1982 , capacity = , length = , width = , width nave = , height = , diameter = , other dimensions = , floor count = , floor area = , dome quantity = , dome height outer = , dome height inner = , dome dia outer = , dome dia inner = , spire quantity = , spire height = , materials =

Brick A brick is a type of construction material used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a unit primarily composed of clay. But is now also used informally to denote building un ...

Saint Martinuskerk

The Saint Martinuskerk in Groningen was built in 1895. The Neogothic church was designed by P.J.H. Cuypers. The church was built with

brick A brick is a type of construction material used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a unit primarily composed of clay. But is now also used informally to denote building un ...

and the interior was sober. In 1956 the church became a

Cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

when the bishopric of Groningen was formed. In 1970 the church was no longer used as church. The plans of changing the church into a

library A library is a collection of Book, books, and possibly other Document, materials and Media (communication), media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or electron ...

for the

were too expensive and in 1982 the church was demolished. At its place the new library of the university was built. The statue of Christ the King

Jesus Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

made by Jan Eloy Brom and his brother Leo Brom (placed in the church in 1936), was relocated to the Roman Catholic Churchyard cemetery in town.

References

External links

Images of Groningen, The Martinus church

Postcard The Martinus church
Churches in Groningen (province) Buildings and structures in Groningen (city) Demolished buildings and structures in the Netherlands Pierre Cuypers buildings