Elster tower during sunset by Nicky Kapel

About "Elster tower during sunset"

by Nicky Kapel

About the artwork

The Elster tower lit by the setting sun.

The Grote or Sint-Maartenskerk, Sint-Werenfriduskerk or Dutch Reformed Church is a church building in Elst in the municipality of Overbetuwe in the Dutch province of Gelderland. The church building stands on a rise at the Grote Molenstraat and the Sint Maartenstraat.

In prehistoric times there was an open-air sanctuary of the Batavians on the site of the church building. In Roman times there were two Roman temples: the Temples of Elst from the first century A.D. Remnants can still be found under and around the church.

Around the eighth century, a Romanesque hall church was built dedicated to Saint Martin. This is said to be the first Christian church at this location, founded, according to tradition, by Saint Werenfridus of Elst. Werenfridus was one of the helpers of the Utrecht bishop Willibrord and had the task to convert the people around Elst to Christianity.

In the tenth and eleventh centuries the hall church was expanded or rebuilt in Romanesque style, including a crypt.

In the middle of the 15th century the choir and in the last quarter of the 15th century (around 1483) a nave with north aisle were built. The tower was also built in the late 15th century. The church was then dedicated to Werenfried van Elst.

After 1579, the church came into the hands of the Protestants when public Catholic worship was forbidden.

In September 1944 the church was largely destroyed during the Battle of Arnhem and burned down co