H Lambertus kerk

The Saint (or Saint) Lambertus Church in Veghel is the oldest church in Veghel and as such can be called the large church. This is how it works in many places, the oldest church, often from the Middle Ages is popularly called the Grote Kerk, although the actual name is preserved. The Lambert parish is already mentioned in 1310. The current church is not the first church building. The old church was on the other side of the market where the library is now located. In 1648, a large part of what is now the Netherlands, the Catholic religion was banned and the church passed into Protestant hands (the Reformation and iconoclasm). This church with about 500 seats was much too big for 20 to 30 Protestants. The Catholics fled to "free" land and religion was free in the land of Ravenstein, which also included Uden. From 1649-1672 the parish therefore had a "church" on the border of Mariaheide-Uden on the "Hooge Heide". From 1672, the Catholics in Veghel, with a blind eye, used a barn church approximately where the rectory now stands. In 1819, the old church building was returned to the Catholics by royal decree, but that had meanwhile been built up. In 1853 the plan for a new church was started, which in 1857 started with dean van Miert as principal. On October 19, 1863, the new church - designed by the later famous architect Pierre Cuypers - was consecrated. Because the church came close to the Jewish synagogue (diagonally opposite it), the Jewish community made it a condition that the church entrance be decorated with the effigies of Moses and Aaron. In later years during the war 1940-1945 the church building was severely damaged. The clocks had also been seized by the occupying forces. After the war the damage was repaired and new bells were installed. The church, originally plastered on the inside, was stripped of this layer of plaster between 1958 and 1963, giving it the current interior appearance. The church is elevated to a religious heritage and has the status of a National Monument. The church is open from 1 pm to 5 pm. Expert guides will be there that afternoon for a tour of the Church. The film of the situation will also be shown "above the vaults" and a number of precious religious objects will be exhibited in the church. Finally, visitors are offered a cup of coffee or tea.

Beautiful place