Lately he has seen fewer and fewer parishioners in the church. Because just like in the rest of West Friesland, the church attendance has also been declining in Zuidermeer for a long time.
According to Molenaar, around fifteen people come by on any Sunday service. After Corona this number has become even less. “Barely ten parishioners, I think.”
For the same reason, the former church was already being converted in 2009. “We were allowed to enjoy it for fourteen years and luckily we can now go to the Hieronymuskerk in Wognum,” it sounds cheerful. This church has been designated as ‘Hoofdkerk’ by the parish board.
The very last celebration in Zuidermeer was on 29 May 2023. An emotional moment for Molenaar. “It was packed, we had to add crutches.”
Closure is inescapable
According to Molenaar, the sale does not just fall out of the blue. “You can see it coming from afar. If the church benches stay empty, it will stop once.”
Other churches from parish The waterfront is waiting for the same fate, says Cees Backer, from the board responsible for the buildings. “Closure is inescapable. Keeping a celebration for ten to fifteen men cannot be sustained.”
The churches in Spanbroek, De Weere and Spierdijk are next, followed by Ursem, Obdam, De Goorn, Hoogwoud and at the end Nibbixwoud.
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