Grote or Sint Pancratius Church in Emmen, The Netherlands

The Grote or Sint-Pancratius Church at Schoolstraat 5 in the Drenthe town of Emmen is a cruciform church built in 1856. There was a church in Emmen as early as the end of the 8th century. In 1228, the whole of Emmen, including probably the church, was destroyed as a reprisal against the Drenthe for the battle of Ane. The church was probably replaced afterwards. In 1456 a new church was built against the existing tower. The current church dates from the mid-19th century. Only the Romanesque tower remains a remnant from the 12th or 13th century. According to the Cultural Heritage Agency, the church was dedicated to Mary. However, according to documents from the archives of the Ter Apel Monastery, the church would originally have been dedicated to Saint Pancratius.

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Great or Saint Pancratius Church in Emmen, The Netherlands

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Große oder St. Pankratius Kirche in Emmen, Niederlande

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Iglesia Grande o San Pancracio en Emmen, Países Bajos

The church tower is recognized as a national monument. When the church was newly built in 1856, the old spire was replaced by an octagonal white tower. This spire was renovated in the 1970s. The bottom of the tower consists of what the Government Service calls granite blocks and what the church describes as dolmen chunks. The north side of the church tower is decorated with monastery jokes.

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Grote of Sint Pancratius kerk in Emmen, Nederland

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