Our Lady of the Assumption
Dorpstraat 1
NL-6871 CZ Renkum
Church | 1922 | | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 9.00 - 16.00
Tue 9.00 - 16.00
Wed 9.00 - 16.00
Thu 9.00 - 16.00
Fri 9.00 - 16.00
Sat 9.00 - 16.00
Sun 9.00 - 16.00
Description
But the most important is the pious statue of Mary of Renkum dating from 1380. Renkum has been a place of pilgrimage since that year. The oldest known pilgrim is Marie d'Harcourt. A French court lady, she came to pray to Mary of Renkum at least four times over the years. She commissioned a famous prayer book, now in Berlin. At the end of the Middle Ages, the Duke of Geldre built a large monastery in Renkum, which became the Monastery of Modern Devotion. The statue of Mary (now a national heritage site) was also housed here, along with a linen cloth, an ancient needlework depicting Christ's mission in the temple. The original fabric is in Utrecht.
Around the building is a park with icons depicting the life of Jesus. The park is always freely accessible to peace seekers and pilgrims.
During the week, free coffee and tea are available in the presbytery in the mornings. Celebrations are held at weekends and pilgrimages are organized, such as the pilgrimage for the sick. But outside groups also come to Renkum. For example, young people from Antwerp came by bike to spend the night and celebrate a service.
If the church still exists, it's thanks to the Mary of Renkum Foundation. Created by the religious community of Renkum, this organization strives to raise the church's profile. It raises funds for maintenance and invests in facilities such as a water pump for the park's bushes and trees, a new heating system and beautiful sliding glass doors. Thanks to the Foundation, in 2020 the church was voted the most welcoming church in the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland by the people of the Netherlands. It has also been granted municipal monument status, preventing its demolition.
The Foundation organizes numerous activities for believers and others. It aims to make the heritage widely accessible and to promote Renkum as a center of worship. You can find photo reports and reports on activities at www.stichtingmariavanrenkum.nl.
Photos
Remarkable elements
Pious statue of the Virgin Mary with necklace
Rhenish polychrome oak statue designed as a reliquary in the mid-1350's. She has been honored as Marie de Renkum since 1380. The necklace dates from the 1570-1620 period and has rested on the statue, as have the silver crowns, since 1928. The statue is officially part of the national heritage.
Sandstone sculptures
Sandstone sculptures from the art studios of Cuypers & Co in Roermond are attached to the pillars. They date from the period 1923-1954. The statue of the Sacred Heart on the altar was donated in 1923 by the Congregation of the Sacred Heart.
Way of the Cross
The Way of the Cross consists of 14 high-relief stations, each forming a group on rising ground. Each station features eight to ten people against a background depicting Jerusalem and Golgotha, all within rectangular frames. The stations come from the previous church, a "Waterstaatskerk" dating from 1839. They are probably casts of the original wooden stations of the cross from St. Francis Xavier Church in Amersfoort. These stations were made around 1872 by Hendrik Van der Geld.
Guest book
On the altar dedicated to Mary, there's an intention book in which people write their prayers, thanks, etc., for her. Completely written books are replaced and preserved. The first book, the Golden Book, contains texts by St. Titus Brandsma, who came to Renkum from Nijmegen with a large number of pilgrims in 1933.
Rosarium Mariae
To generate more interest in Marian pilgrimages, the neglected procession park behind and around the church was transformed in 2011-2012 into a rosary park, the "Rosarium Mariae". The mysteries of the rosary take center stage. At four points along the path that winds through the park are groups of five chapels featuring icons depicting the life of Jesus.
Meinwerk's chasuble
Meinwerk, born in Renkum, came from a noble family. His mother, Countess Adela, owned property in Renkum. Meinwerk was bishop of Paderborn in the early 10th century, and rebuilt the cathedral, which had burned down. The chasuble refers to Meinwerk, among others, and was donated to Renkum in 1878. It can be found in the presbytery. A piece of bone is also present as a relic.
