The Great Church - St. Bavo's Haarlem - Grote Kerk
I arrived at our Haarlem hotel in the early morning, a day before our tour began. My room wasn’t ready yet so I dropped my luggage in the hotel storage room and headed out to explore the historical area of Haarlem. The sun was providing light and warmth. I decided to celebrate my arrival with brunch at an outside café in the Grote Markt, the great/main square. I enjoyed my brunch sitting in the sun, little did I know that this would be the last time we would see the sun for a couple of days.
After some sunny sustenance, I headed across the square to the landmark St. Bavo’s, Grote Kerk, the Great Church. The construction of the church started in 1370 and completed in 1520. On my must see list, the historical Christian Muller pipe organ. The organ was built by the renowned Amsterdam builder between 1735 and 1738. In 1766, a 10 year old Mozart played this organ. G.F. Handel was also known to have played this pipe organ. The organ counts 50168 pipes and is almost 30m high. Why my interest in pipe organs? I have played the organ since I was a young girl. A dear friend of mine, is one of the most noted pipe organist in North America. The music has always been important to me.
As I walked into Grote Kerk, I heard the organ being played. Oh my goodness, the organist was doing some mid-morning practice. Did I say, I heard the exquisite sounds of this historical organ! After the morning practice was complete, I continued my circular walk around the church observing the sacred features. There are individual open chapels bordering the main floor. As I walked by the Christmas Chapel, a noon prayer service was beginning. A Dutch woman invited me in and handed me a Dutch prayer program. There was a small pipe organ that was being played as hymns were sung. Occasionally, a woman would rise and read scripture, a prayer or a devotion. The power of hymn and prayer crosses all cultural boundaries, chords of unity.
I probably have recited “The Lord’s Prayer” everyday of my life. I have respected the words as the purest and truest prayer of my religion. But imagine sitting in an Old World church, listening to a foreign language. All of a sudden one recognizes a familiar rhythm. The prayer group is praying, “The Lord’s Prayer.” With tears in my eyes, I pray along with my Dutch believers. I realize that this special rhythm is the heartbeat of the Lord’s people, a common prayer of faith.
After some sunny sustenance, I headed across the square to the landmark St. Bavo’s, Grote Kerk, the Great Church. The construction of the church started in 1370 and completed in 1520. On my must see list, the historical Christian Muller pipe organ. The organ was built by the renowned Amsterdam builder between 1735 and 1738. In 1766, a 10 year old Mozart played this organ. G.F. Handel was also known to have played this pipe organ. The organ counts 50168 pipes and is almost 30m high. Why my interest in pipe organs? I have played the organ since I was a young girl. A dear friend of mine, is one of the most noted pipe organist in North America. The music has always been important to me.
As I walked into Grote Kerk, I heard the organ being played. Oh my goodness, the organist was doing some mid-morning practice. Did I say, I heard the exquisite sounds of this historical organ! After the morning practice was complete, I continued my circular walk around the church observing the sacred features. There are individual open chapels bordering the main floor. As I walked by the Christmas Chapel, a noon prayer service was beginning. A Dutch woman invited me in and handed me a Dutch prayer program. There was a small pipe organ that was being played as hymns were sung. Occasionally, a woman would rise and read scripture, a prayer or a devotion. The power of hymn and prayer crosses all cultural boundaries, chords of unity.
I probably have recited “The Lord’s Prayer” everyday of my life. I have respected the words as the purest and truest prayer of my religion. But imagine sitting in an Old World church, listening to a foreign language. All of a sudden one recognizes a familiar rhythm. The prayer group is praying, “The Lord’s Prayer.” With tears in my eyes, I pray along with my Dutch believers. I realize that this special rhythm is the heartbeat of the Lord’s people, a common prayer of faith.