Baak (G): St. Martinus (A. Tepe, 1888-1891)
When in 1581 the catholic faith was banned, the old church of Baak became
formally protestant. Within a hundred years it became a ruin until in 1776 only
the lower part of the tower remained. The catholics in the meantime had been
using hidden churches and barn churches, the last of which was built in 1773. In
1836 this church was rebuild with higher walls and windows in neo-Classical
style. In this form it served until 1891. In 1868 a rich parishioner died and left to the church a large sum of money,
intended for the construction of a new church. It took two more decades before
further steps were taken. Architect Alfred Tepe was probably commissioned in
1888, as in April 1889 the construction of the new church was tendered.
Construction lasted two years, and in 1891 the church was completed. Tepe designed a three-aisled pseudo-basilica with a front tower which is
adorned with niches and traceries. The side-aisles are covered by shed roofs
with the exception of each third trave, which has a protruding extension and is
covered by hip roofs. The east part of the church consists of a polygonal
transept and a choir with lateral chapels , all equally high as the nave.
Connected to the choir by a short passage is a small chapel. Because of the declining church attendance, in 2006 the nave has been seperated from the
eastern part of the church by a glass wall and has been used for
cultural and social events since. To access the religous part of the church an
ugly new portal was built at the northern transept. There are plans to close the church and give a
profane function altogether.
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