The Grote Kerk Congregation is a Reformed congregation with an open and ecumenical character, which is part of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN). The Grote Kerk Municipality is a generous municipality where a diversity of people feel welcome and are active. The members of the Grote Kerk Congregation represent a multitude of ecclesiastical backgrounds. In Christ we know our covenants and His mercy inspires us to live a life focused on our neighbor.

Services

Every Sunday, congregation members and guest members of all ages gather in a service  where we connect with the Church of all ages and places. This is expressed in a liturgy that stands in the ecumenical tradition of the church of the ages with an eye for peace and quiet, for singing together and for proclamation with depth and topicality. Ds. Paul Wansink is the pastor  of the Grote Kerk.

Church music has an important function in worship. Our organist and cantrix and the Grote Kerk Cantorij ‘Sura Cantat’ give substance to this. Every two weeks Vespers or Cantata services are held on Sunday evenings with extra attention to music.

Open church

The Grote Kerk Congregation is also in abundance in the city. We have taken the initiative for the Church in the City project , in which we, together with the Lutheran congregation, are looking for opportunities to meet people in the middle of the city, to think through the topicality of the faith, but also to literally become silent in the setting of a city ​​monastery.

The Grote Kerk itself is open every day from April to November. In the Chapel of Silence you can pray, burn a candle or seek silence. In the summer months there is an afternoon prayer every Wednesday at 12:30 pm, provided by a circle of pastors from all over the city.

The City Pastoral Work Group is always looking for ways to express that the church not only has a museum appearance, but is also home to a religious community and, more broadly, living room for the city.

All activities of the Grote Kerk Congregation are not only open to members of the congregation, but also to guest members and interested parties outside the congregation. In the information about (guest) membership you will find more information about involvement in the church.

Activities

The Grote Kerk Municipality is an active congregation with various discussion groups and special activities for young people and the elderly . The diaconate works for people who need help and support for diaconal goals near and far.

Networking

The Grote Kerk Municipality is part of the Reformed Municipality of Dordrecht and is involved in an association process to create a Protestant Church on the island of Dordt.

Nationally, the Grote Kerk is part of the Network Citykerken Nederland , in which a number of large city churches maintain contacts in order to learn from each other’s religious communities.

The Grote Kerk Municipality is responsible for its own financial exploitation. With donations you will find information about how you can financially support the activities of the Grote Kerk Gemeente and the costs (such as the maintenance of the building).