St. Gerlachus Church

St. Gerlachus' Church, Banholt

Banholt traditionally belonged to the parish of Mheer. When the church of Mheer had to be rebuilt in 1872, the inhabitants of Banholt wanted this reconstruction to take place halfway along the Mheer-Banholt road. When that did not happen, they decided to build their own church building, intended as a rectorate church independent of Mheer. Construction began in 1874. They baked their own mud bricks, extracted on the Banneterheide. There was also no architect involved. The architect Jonkergouw from Meerssen and contractor Prevoo from Margraten built a church modelled on the church of Berneau in Belgium in a simplified classicist style. The foundation stone was laid in 1874 by the church's greatest benefactor: Hendrik Bastings. After him, many other villagers sacrificed. On December 28, 1876, the church was consecrated by the then dean of Gulpen. But the separation from Mheer did not go without a struggle. Bishop, count and parish priest refused to serve the church of Banholt and the 'Banholt Schism' arose, which officially lasted until 1881. From 1877 to 1881 no masses were said and one had to make do with lay ministry and the help of a former Catholic priest. In 1881 the quarrel was settled and Banholt became an independent rectorate under the parish of Mheer. In 1922, an inconspicuous bell tower was replaced by the current brick tower according to Nic's plans. Ramakers. In 1937 Banholt became a parish. The eighth rector, August Rohs, became the first parish priest of Banholt.

Eijsden-Margraten