The more than forty inhabitants of Iens easily fit into this picturesque church. The northern wall and tower date back to the thirteenth century, while the choir and southern wall were renewed in 1874 during an expansion. On the corner of the church roof stands a remarkable multi-pointed star. Its origin is unknown, but there were already discussions about this 'star' in the eighteenth century.
Inside, you will find, among other things, sculpted tombstones, a fourteenth-century altar stone made of pink Bremer sandstone (now an communion table), and a seventeenth-century pulpit with a rainwater basin underneath. Also noteworthy is the coat of arms on the wall, a remnant of a mourning board for the Burmania family.
Additional information:
The church and tower were built in the 13th century. The northern wall and tower, constructed from mixed yellow monastery bricks, remained intact. The choir and southern wall were renewed in 1874 during an enlargement, and the tower also underwent some renovation in 1852. The north wall of the church has, on the west side, a Romanesque round arch window with a small hatch. Eastwards, there is a trace of a bricked-up window of this model. Additionally, low in the facade, there is a rectangular mark, possibly a concealed entrance. The long, five-sided choir has two large pointed arch windows on the north side. The renewed south wall also contains large pointed arch windows. On the corner of the roof stands a beautiful multi-pointed star, with even twisted rays. Nothing is known about its origin, but there are mentions of this 'star' as early as the 18th century. The tower has small annexes on both sides for auxiliary functions. The unaltered trunk rises above, and above the pinnacle of the church roof, there are small round-arched sound holes on each side. The renewed gables at the saddle roof have cover strips and pinnacle crowns made of artificial stone. In the west wall, there is the straight-closed entrance with an arched window above. In the tower hangs a bell cast in 1612 by Hendrik Wegewaert.
Internally, the church has a wooden barrel vault with tie beams. In the central aisle, there are sculpted tombstones, including one for Botke van Burmania, who died in 1553. The altar stone from the mid-14th century, made of pink Bremer sandstone, is appropriately used as the communion table top. Against the eastern end wall stands the pulpit from the mid-17th century with grooved corner pillars and corniced panels. The oak baptismal enclosure with closed panels and the church benches date back to 1763. On the wall hangs the coat of arms remnant of a mourning board for a member of the Burmania family. Under the floor near the pulpit is a rainwater basin, a reminder of the church expansion. In the organ case from the Standard company in 1915, a Heyligers organ was installed in 1978.
Part of the church and tower from the 13th century
Protestant
Pulpit, mourning board, rainwater basin, organ
