St Willibrord within the fortress; a brief history of an old town-centre parish
The building
The year 1795 meant the tentative start of emancipation for the Catholics in the Dutch city of Amsterdam. Regency ceased to exist and the Batavian Republic recognised freedom of religion. Established around 1682, the Willibrord parish was the first to make use of this freedom of religion and in the same year the parishioners built a church on the Prinsengracht. Until then, like all other nonrecognized religious groups, the parish used to meet in a so-called conventicle. This was a building which did not look like a church on the outside. The name was usually engraved in the facade because the buildings had no house numbers. The conventicle used by the Willibrord parish was 'Het Vredesduifje' (The Dove of Peace) at Kerkstraat 67, the same place where today the post office is located.
The church on the Prinsengracht soon proved to be too small. In 1857 the present, much larger church, designed by architect Theo Molkenboer, was built on the same foundations. Like in most newly-built churches, the parishioners continued to use the name of the old conventicle and the name 'Vredesduifje' gradually changed into 'De Duif' (The Dove).
The sandstone facade and the ground plan of the building are of Neobaroque origin and as such form an architectural exception to mid nineteenth century churches. The original ground plan consists of an octagonal centre with an adjoined chancel and a nave with side aisles and galleries. In the church itself some objects catch the eye such as the baroque high altar with its baldachin, the richly decorated carved pulpit and, in particular, the impressive organ built by Smits, the renowned organ builder from the province of Brabant; the largest of five organs built by him in the Northern Netherlands. The organ, the facade and the interior of the church are listed monuments.
The congregation
After having flourished for more than a century, the church was closed by the church authorities at the beginning of 1974. A group of parishioners led by the choir and its conductor disagreed with the closure. They took the initiative and responsibility to continue church services. Two priests supported the group and the parish continued as before, with the only major difference, however, that the congregation of 'De Duif' had become a basic group with a democratic set-up.
The process of democratisation was extended by the congregation as far as possible. Since 1974 the policy-making process has been determined by the members of the General Meeting (GM) which everyone is welcome to attend. Differences of opinion are discussed at the GM as far as possible; decisions are taken through majority voting.
This does not always succeed. In 1976 a rift occurred between the leading choir groups and the other members of the congregation. The first group pursued a music-cultural objective for 'De Duif' with fewer religious activities. The other members of the congregation wanted to preserve the religious objective of the church which, however, did not exclude cultural and social events. The parties did not reach agreement and a dozen early followers of 'De Duif' broke their ties with the congregation.
In the years that followed the 'Duif' congregation gradually became a church of volunteers and laymen. Although financial problems caused the church to be closed down in 1974, all these problems vanished into thin air for 'De Duif' in its new set-up. Everyone is equal, all work is shared and each member of the congregation donates his services. Maintenance of the building and organ is controlled by the congregation and is carried out by its own people with their own means.
Despite the fact that the congregation is of Roman Catholic origin, which is evident from the way in which services are still conducted, it now consists of various religious backgrounds.
Over the years, sharing things and doing things together also extended to Sunday liturgy but a priest was still available for quite some time. The well-attended weekly liturgy meeting developed into a so-called 'leerhuis', a theological study group. The meeting was considered to be very interesting and was a continuous search for other views with regard to God and the Holy Scriptures, enabling the various religions to share and enrich each other's experiences. Participants to this meeting increasingly proved to be able to express themselves better in public about what they experienced in the Scriptures. They realised that they were part of an age-old tradition which offers scope for creativity and views within religion deviating from the views imposed by the authorities.
Consequently, the next step was to have the service conducted by the participants themselves.
Over the years, the tradition of breaking and sharing the bread has become an experience with a new meaning for many participants. Instead of their individual relationship with the Lord, they experience a mutual willingness to share everything with other people more intensely than ever before. The 'Institutional words' are uttered by all participants together and theological aspects such as whether everything is just as valuable and important as the Holy Communion or an Eucharistic service are not questioned and, if so desired, left to one's own discretion.
The man or woman who leads the service is not ordained or appointed but is elected by the congregation itself. In the meantime the annual election of leaders in the service has become a tradition.
Although the focus is on the Sunday observance and 'De Duif' fosters religion and religious feelings as such, liturgy is not the only thing that matters. To many people 'De Duif' mainly is a familiar home, a community of people who pursue having warm feelings and attention for each other.
Recent developments
When a number of parishioners of 'De Duif' squatted in their church after the compulsory closure, they did not automatically become the legal owners of the premises. The owner of the premises was the diocese of Haarlem and all attempts to transfer ownership failed. However, a solution has recently been found to this problem. After extensive negotiations the premises with the adjoining presbytery were bought by the 'Amsterdams Monumentenfonds NV' in May 1995. This fund has assured the 'Duif' congregation, as shareholder, that it will be allowed to make use of the church. In this way an impasse which lasted twenty years was finally solved. Now preparations can be made for the sorely needed restoration of the monumental church building.
Finally: entry into the congregation is not without obligations and all conditions have been laid down in the byelaws of 'Stichting De Duif'. Those who are interested can obtain an excerpt stating the goals and objectives from the executive committee. It goes without saying, that 'De Duif' is and always will be a church everybody is welcome to visit on Sunday at half past ten, to join us in our weekly service.
Amsterdam 1998
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