The church in Hagestein is not only one of the oldest in the Vijfheerenlanden region, but it also played a key role for some time as the mother church of the Grote Kerk in Vianen. The church was founded in the year 1108 after the Bishop of Utrecht decreed that the Utrecht chapters and the St. Salvator church were entitled to the income and rights of the newly reclaimed peat areas between the Lek and the Linge.
When the Lords of Vianen set up a chapel in the 13th Century, it fell under the church of Hagestein. The relationship between Vianen and Hagestein was a difficult one, both in political and religious terms. On 23 June 1433, the churches were definitively separated from each other due to hostility, arson, manslaughter and domestic wars between the domains of Vianen and Hagestein.
When …
The church in Hagestein is not only one of the oldest in the Vijfheerenlanden region, but it also played a key role for some time as the mother church of the Grote Kerk in Vianen. The church was founded in the year 1108 after the Bishop of Utrecht decreed that the Utrecht chapters and the St. Salvator church were entitled to the income and rights of the newly reclaimed peat areas between the Lek and the Linge.
When the Lords of Vianen set up a chapel in the 13th Century, it fell under the church of Hagestein. The relationship between Vianen and Hagestein was a difficult one, both in political and religious terms. On 23 June 1433, the churches were definitively separated from each other due to hostility, arson, manslaughter and domestic wars between the domains of Vianen and Hagestein.
When both the town and the castle of Hagestein were completely destroyed in the year 1405, only the church was left standing. In the disaster year of 1674, the church’s nave was completely blown away by a hurricane. As there was no money for a full restoration, it was decided to hold a church in the choir from then on. In the year 1830, the old church was largely replaced by a new, bigger church. Only the tower was preserved.
Further reading: Cope reclamation, Grote Kerk Vianen (Great Church), Hagestein Castle, Hagestein village centre.
