Losser (Ov): O.L. Vrouw Geboorte (A. Tepe, 1901-1902)
The
first church of Losser was the St. Martinus. It is unknown when exactly
this church was built, but it was probably between 1200 and 1400. From
1636 until 1810 this church was used by the protestant, then it was
returned to the catholics. Because the church had become too small, it
was demolished in 1904. Only the tower remains. Elsewhere in the
village a new church was built, designed by architect Alfred Tepe.
In many ways the O.L. Vrouwekerk is a smaller version of the OLV ten
Hemelopneming in Utrecht, which Tepe had built in 1894 and which was
demolished in 1972. Both are three-aisled hall-churches in
neo-Gothic style, built of brick. Both have a long nave and side-aisles
slightly shorter and narrower than the main aisle. The roofs on the
side-aisles are lower than the one on the main aisle, but while the
side-aisles in Losser are covered by one single roof each, in
Utrecht each trave had a roof of its own. The side-aisles end
in lateral chapels flanking the choir. Different are the fronts of the
side-aisles; polygonal Utrecht, straight in Losser. On the left side of
the nave is a double transept with a polygonal stair-turret. The other
side of the nave is straight.
Tepe built at least one more similar church, the St. Jan de Doper in
Arnhem, which also dates from 1894. This church, which still exists, is
basically similar to the one in Losser, except for the polygonal fronts
of the side-aisles and the transept being on the other side of the
nave.
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