The bullet is through the church: the West Frisian parish of Heilige Martinus in Medemblik has been officially elected ‘main church’, or liturgical center.
After a run-up of about seventeen years, the RK Regio Wervershoof partnership was allowed to announce it: out of four West Frisian parishes, the parish of Saint Martinus in Medemblik has been chosen as the place in which the parish of Maria Middelares of all Graces in Andijk, the parish of Saint Gerardus Majella in Onderdijk and the parish of Sint Werenfridus in Wervershoof to merge.
The road to this decision started years ago, in 2006. The reasons for the amalgamation of the parishes are now well known. Among other things, due to the decline in the number of volunteers and churchgoers and financial problems, more and more West Frisian church buildings are closing their doors. “We are not unique in that”, says Peter de Boer, the information officer of the parish council.
Not without a fight
This afternoon during the information afternoon, the main location of the parish was announced. Singular, De Boer emphasises. “Because we now officially speak of one parish.” Formally, this means that from Easter the liturgy goes to one church. An exception to this are the funeral celebrations, which will still be held in the other locations.
The choice for Medemblik was not without a struggle. “We are on a board with all parishes and there have been quite a few discussions beforehand. Medemblik ended up being the best fit for our vision for the future,” says De Boer. This vision for the future was presented in 2021 under the name New Breath.
Living together with everyone
In this vision, the parish council wanted to combine manpower and finances, among other things. Which made the choice for Medemblik a little easier. “In the church building in Medemblik we can immediately start with our plans. For example, all other buildings must first be renovated, we don’t have the money or time for that.”
The information officer also understands that ripples in the water are insurmountable. “A lot will also change for Medemblik, because we will all be living together. And when you live together, you always get furniture that you might not like very much.”
For better or worse
Despite the move to one location, the parish does not want to lose churchgoers. But the same applies to, for example, the participants in singing meetings, the elderly who look forward to their clover jacket evenings or the homeless who come by for a meal. The journey to Medemblik may be too cumbersome for them. The ‘sweet and sorrow’ locations have been devised for these gatherings, in the former parishes of Andijk, Onderdijk and Wervershoof.
De Boer: “As long as these three church buildings have not been sold, we will organize the joys and sorrows meetings there. We hope that they will be such a success that we can continue them after the sale.” The board is also looking for a solution for people who want to go to the liturgical center but find it too far. As far as De Boer is concerned, the emphasis is on a bright future: together. “We do not close a period. This is the opportunity to do something new. build together.”