Abstract
This dissertation offers an exploration of four multiple-used city churches where Protestant faith communities share the church building with other secular users. Due to their multiple use, religious communities have to relate to secular actors, such as those involved in art and heritage. After an introductory chapter on the multiple
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use of church buildings, chapter 2 deals with the Geertekerk in Utrecht, where a relationship is established between the history of Remonstrant use and the current exploitation model. The (re)construction and the interior design show how the Remonstrants experience their own church building and what connection they see between aesthetics and spirituality. Chapter 3 of the Sint-Joriskerk in Amersfoort reveals the historical relationship between the local congregation and the interior of the church building. This church building is a good example of the increasing visibility of its Catholic past, partly due to the influence of tourism. Chapter 4 discusses the development of the Grote Kerk in Zwolle, which presents itself with the brand name Academiehuis. Besides restorations and alterations, the changes in the administrative structure are striking. The worship life is limited mainly to vespers. In the period 2015-2020, several developments took place in this church building, which gave rise to changes in ownership and in the user agreement. Chapter 5 concludes the series with the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, where the religious community lost ownership over the church building already long ago. In terms of multiple use, the Oude Kerk occupies a special position as a cultural institution with museum status. The commonalities, but also the frictions, between religion and art were clearly revealed during specific exhibitions and related events. This study shows not only that multiple use fits in very well with the history of the church buildings, but also that the church buildings have a great capacity to appeal to various users. Through the multiple use and the restorations, the pre-Reformation Catholic past is strongly and tangibly brought back. The interactions between users increase, but the users do not know from each other how they relate to the church building. Through all the care and investments, church buildings are becoming more accessible and prominent in their respective cities. Ownership is gradually becoming less unambiguous. The religious communities become more aware of the relationship between their liturgy and the church building. It is remarkable that some other users boldly name and appropriate the sacredness of the church building. De-churching is also visible in a shift in determining ‘proper use’ of the church building: instead of faith communities and church institutions, the new owners decide about what they consider proper use. As for rituals, a general trend is that Catholic holidays, silence and music are often chosen as starting points. Based on long-term ethnographic research and a detailed analysis, 'Religious Heritage as Shared Space’ shows and analyses the struggles and dilemmas of the various users.
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