You can’t see it from the outside. Nevertheless, the organ in the Stefanuskerk in Westerbork needs to be replaced. The wood becomes less and the organ pipes no longer give the desired sound. It is one of the things that the new Friends of the Stefanuskerk foundation is raising money for. But the foundation wants more.
Several so-called Stefanus Sessions are organized under the name Cultuurpodium Westerbork, cultural activities in the church. “We want the church to be felt in the community as a church that belongs to everyone,” explains Dirk Mulder, chairman of the foundation. “That it is not only of the ecclesiastical congregations, but that it is also heritage. With the activities we hope to bring more culture to the village.”
The income from the sessions goes towards the maintenance of the church and the restoration of the organ. According to Mulder, it is a win-win situation for the village: “It is an enrichment. Because subsidies can be obtained for those activities, but you always have to make your own contribution and the foundation tries to bring that together.”
During the first session today, the stage is set for the well-known radio and TV presenters Felix Meurders and Herbert Dijkstra. Live music comes from the Westerborker winner of the Drents song festival 2021 Jolien Wonink-Dijkstra, together with members of her Moonshineband.