Address: | Wilhelminastraat 1 |
Year Built: | 1846 |
Open to Public: | Yes |
Ownership: | Private |
Protestant Church * 1846
Category: Oranjestad
The old protestant church was built in 1846 and is the oldest church building in Aruba. At first, this building was the home of the Arends family.
It was sold in 1844 to the Protestant community which was established in 1922. The old building served as home and as church.
In 1845 the house was demolished and a new church was built over the basement of the old house. For this construction, the stones of the demolished house were used for wall construction of the church. Due to its location close to the coastline in those days, the church in Wilhelminastraat was called ‘The church at the Bay’.
A church will always need a church bell. In the house-church from before 1845, a bell was installed in a dormer-window. When the 1846 church was being built, the new bell broke during transportation. The acquisition of new one from Coro, Venezuela, was facilitated by the Lieutenant Governor. It was installed in the new belfry on top of the roof. It was known as the ‘pigeon house’. It was replaced by a bell tower in 1867.
On the Wilhelminastraat side of the building there is a portico with a wall with the year 1846 in iron on it and a door behind it. It was constructed in 1910 to keep the eyes of curious on-lookers out.
The old building served as a Protestant church until 1950, when the new, large church was built next door and the services continued there.
Since the 1880’s renovation and restoration of the church has been an ongoing thing. Most recently, in the 1980’s and 90’s, the church has been restored to its 19th century settings. High quality furniture, roof tiles, chandeliers and wooden artifacts were acquired – or being donated – from the Netherlands. So was the organ.
The building is still used for special occasions like expositions and music performances.
If you are lucky and find the iron gate and the front door open, you might try to take a look inside and maybe get shown around. You’ll be impressed by the collection of historical bibles.