The first organs in protestant village churches on Zuid-Beveland (Zeeland) by G.J. Lepoeter

G.J. Lepoeter The first organs in protestant village churches on Zuid-Beveland (Zeeland)
HetORGEL 104 (2008), nr. 2, 28-39 [summary]

The arrival of a new Dutch version of psalms in verse in 1773 led onZuid-Beveland, a region in the Dutch province of Zeeland, to the firstuse of organs in village churches for the accompaniment ofcongregational singing.  The church in Baarland was the first,in 1786.  Other villages followed later, among them Kloetingeand Nisse.  Contacts and envious emulation among thepatricians of various localities played a dominantrôle.  That prominent personages could also preventthe placement of an organ is apparent from the situation at Wemeldinge,where the rich and influential Maria Coomans determined in hertestament that the destitute church would inherit her money only if itwas not used to buy an organ.

Wemeldinge, Hervormde kerk Photo: M. de Goffau (1982)

Baarland, Hervormde kerk Photo: Instituut voor Liturgiewetenchap Groningen