Courtesy of: The Morning News
ORANJESTAD — A charming and important landmark building, the first protestant church on Aruba was erected in 1846, and still stands in the shadow of the larger, more modern structure located at the head of the Wilhelminastraat in Oranjestad.
This historic building is in a deplorable state, and members of the church have founded Rescati Kerki 1846, to renovate and convert it into a nondenominational chapel available to all faiths for quiet reflection. The ultimate goal is to provide a place convenient for spiritual contemplation and refreshment in the mornings, before most start their hectic work day.
The members of the Rescati Kerki 1846, which was founded to accomplish this goal, are Ernst Stutterheim, President, Nicol Baptista, Treasurer, Dito Eman, Fundraising, Cees Sluiter, liaison to the Director of the Aruba Monument Bureau Yvonne Webb-Kock, Yvonnne Krumhout and Henna Snijder, fundraising event organizers, Aimee Henriquez, Secretary, Aldrich and Erin Croes, Marketing and Media and Ruud van den Belt, liaison in Holland.
The building was constructed of the typical materials of the time, which included coral rock and limestone, cemented with the adobe particular to the island. Yvonne Webb-Kock, representing the government’s participation in the project, is handling the technical details of the project. She explained the many challenges of restoring and preserving such materials, and the work that will be done, which includes replacing the roof tiles, the ceiling, the wooden windows and doors, as well as mortaring and painting the entire structure.
The funds required for restoring the old church to its original glory is projected to be one million Aruban florins ($557,000.) The Protestant Church has already donated 100,000 Aruban florins. Over March and April, there will be quite some media exposure about the project through Magic FM radio as well as several fundraising events are planned.
Aldrick Croes stated that if they could get 10,000 individuals or families to donate 100 Aruban florins each, the required funds would be attained. The result would be an important tourist attraction as well as a place for all the faith to come and feel uplifted, much as the Alto Vista Chapel, which has a catholic affiliation, yet has a distinctive, spiritual atmosphere for all visitors, whatever their beliefs.
The Minister of Tourism and Culture will see to it that it also has a plaque displayed for visitors in several languages with a full history of the church, further underlining its landmark value.
It is hoped that all the funds will be raised by September 1 of this year, so the work can begin in earnest.
