St. Willibrordus Church in Middelbeers
After 1900, the old St. Willibrordus Church (the Old Church as we know it today) became too small. The growing number of villagers created a need for a larger church. Therefore, between 1925 and 1927, at the initiative of Pastor van der Meijden, a new Willibrordus Church was built further down the street, designed by architect Louis Joseph Petrus Kooken (1867-1940) from Eindhoven.
Louis Kooken was the municipal architect of Eindhoven. Together with Ir. Joseph Cuypers (son of Pierre Cuypers), he designed the first General Expansion Plan for Eindhoven in 1918, which was based on the garden city concept.
The St. Willibrordus Church was built with a co…
After 1900, the old St. Willibrordus Church (the Old Church as we know it today) became too small. The growing number of villagers created a need for a larger church. Therefore, between 1925 and 1927, at the initiative of Pastor van der Meijden, a new Willibrordus Church was built further down the street, designed by architect Louis Joseph Petrus Kooken (1867-1940) from Eindhoven.
Louis Kooken was the municipal architect of Eindhoven. Together with Ir. Joseph Cuypers (son of Pierre Cuypers), he designed the first General Expansion Plan for Eindhoven in 1918, which was based on the garden city concept.
The St. Willibrordus Church was built with a combination of traditionalist and expressionist forms. The original design for the tower had only one section on the south side. Ultimately, it would be built with four sections. In addition to the church, Kooken also designed a school with four classrooms. This building served as an institute for the education and training of Roman Catholic youth.
In 1927, the new church was inaugurated. The old church was closed, and its interior, including parts of the organ and an old baptismal font, was moved to the new church.
Behind the church is the cemetery where the graves of the Smulders mayors can be found. Mayor Jan Smulders, a descendant of a long line of mayors, perished in Germany in 1944 during the so-called death marches. His wife was appointed the first female mayor of the Netherlands in 1946.
The Old Church was preserved and can be found across the road. For more information on this church, click here.
