The Heuvelse kerk (also Sint-Jozefkerk) is a neo-Gothic Catholic church building in the North Brabant city of Tilburg. Together with the Heikese church, it is the most important church building in the center and is regarded as a defining image of Tilburg. It stands by the Hill, a central square after which the church dedicated to Joseph of Nazareth is named. In front of the building is the Sacred Heart statue dating from 1921. The church is part of Parish De Goede Herder.
Due to financial reasons, the building was built in two phases. The first part was completed in the years 1871–73 and the second part, which included the facade with the two towers, was built between 1887 and 1889. The consecration took place in that last year by the bishop of the diocese 's- Hertogenbosch. A new church was needed to accommodate the growing Tilburg population and it was built in the garden of a barracks. The barracks itself was converted into the rectory. The only major adjustment to the building designed by Hendrik Jacobus van Tulder was the extension of the transept in the 1950s.
The cruciform basilica has two towers at the front with a height of 72 meters. The entrances are located in the three portals in the front facade. In the middle portal is a relief of the flight into Egypt. Also on the top of the gable between the towers is a copper gilded statue of Saint Joseph. The interior of the Heuvelse kerk is covered by a rib vault and contains two organs and a winged altarpiece, which was made by Hendrik van der Geld between 1878 and 1881. There are also frescoes of the Stations of the Cross, which the Belgian Georges de Geetere made for two decades. painted after opening.
In 2019, the parish announced plans to sell the Heuvelse kerk, but the bishop has postponed those plans.
The St. Joseph's Church is a landmark building in the city center of Tilburg.
The architecture
The church was built between 1872 and 1889 according to a design by H.J. from Tulder. The plastered interior has articulated pillars, traceries in a High Gothic style above the dividing arches and stone cross-rib vaults. A star vault has been placed over the intersection. The church has a wooden carved neo-Gothic wing altar by H. van der Geld.
The atmosphere
The Saint Joseph's Church is a typical city center church. It is located on the cozy but busy Heuvelplein, right in the heart of Tilburg, the entertainment center. Amid all the city noise, the church offers a place of silence, space and tranquility where people can reflect. The church also radiates this: its towers involuntarily direct the gaze towards the sky, the interior gives a feeling of eternity, boundlessness and space.
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