N. Herv. Hemmen Church

The Hemmen municipality has a long history. Pre-Reformation predecessors are still known; Their names are on the wall in the consistory room. From the Reformation to the present day, many servants have served the congregation, incidentally in close relationship with the Van Lynden family who - the now destroyed - castle lived and also had an important voice in the church. Of the pastors here may be mentioned Rev. Johannes Mauritius Mommers who served the congregation for 55 years (1682-1737). Before his time, Mommers was an ecumenical-minded pastor. Among other things, he wrote an extensive work 'Luther gereformeert' (Leiden 1729) in which he unfolded cautious thoughts regarding the unity of the churches. Undoubtedly, this open attitude has already had an impact in the municipality and the surrounding area. Mommers was also a child of the Further Reformation. Pietist spirituality is clearly noticeable in his works.

Although Hemmen, located in the Betuwe, has remained a village of very modest size, it has gained more national fame, especially in the last century. The impetus for this should not be sought in certain public relations actions of the then administrators of the village. On the contrary, Hemmen became known by yet another servant of the only church on the spot, the Reformed Church.

On the site of the current church there must have been a prayer chapel in honour of Mary in the Middle Ages, east of the castle of Hemmen, on the 'dangerous' road from Wageningen to Nijmegen. In 1395 the church was listed as Sint Maartenskerk in the list of churches that financed the construction of the Dom in Utrecht.

The nave of the church may be much older (13th century). Before that, there was probably a pagan sanctuary.
The choir of the church dates from the 15th century. For many centuries, therefore, the following has been true: "Here the peace is bestowed" (inscription above the entrance). Beautiful are the stained glass windows in the church, made in 1933 by Femmy Schilt-Geesink. They give a picture left and right of stories from the New Testament. During the war, the church was partly destroyed and also the windows, but fortunately restored.

At the back of the church are memorial stones of Rev. O.G. Heldring (founder of Heldring -asylums in Zetten) and Rev. Ippius Fockens. Their names can also be found on the nameplates of ministers in the consistory (1935), even before the Reformation. The RK past is also evident in the choir: bricked priest's gate, sink and sacrament house. The commemorative plaques on the right (1787, van Lijnden van Hogendorp with the weapons) and on the left (1931) show the connection between castle and church. In 1931, the last lord of Hemmen died childless, his property was converted into a fund: the "Fund for Church and Mission".

Striking in the choir are the old crown (the one in the nave is a copy) and the brass reader and blaker at the pulpit (all probably 17th century). The pulpit is less old, used to stand on a high leg (now baptismal font) and has been moved several times. During the last restoration, a German reader and a chair from Italy were placed. The organ is originally a baroque organ from 1725. The greenhouse has been preserved, the organ itself has been renewed many times. In 1972 the organ builder De Jongh from Lisse built a new organ in the old greenhouse. It has 14 registers.
In the tower there is a recently restored very old clock. The clock above the organ keeps pace with the tower clock. The current tower dates from the end of the 18th century; The bell in it was renewed after the last war, it has recently been ringing automatically.
Around the church are many old graves. There you will also find the burial vault of the van Lijnden family, an old stone sarcophagus and especially the silence under the high plane trees.

Text: Gerrit Veneklaas

routeburo