James the Greater Church
| James the Greater Church | |
|---|---|
| Jacobus de Meerderekerk | |
James the Greater Church in 2007
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| 50°49′06″N 6°00′24″E / 50.8182°N 6.0068°ECoordinates: 50°49′06″N 6°00′24″E / 50.8182°N 6.0068°E | |
| Location | Pastoor Neujeanstraat 6 6351 GK, Bocholtz |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | parochiesimpelveld |
| History | |
| Founded | 1873 |
| Dedication | James the Greater |
| Relics held | Relic of pope Cornelius |
| Events | 1953-1954: Choir extended |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Rijksmonument (33600) |
| Architect(s) |
Pierre Cuypers Harry Koene |
| Style | Neogothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1869 |
| Completed | 1873 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Saint James the Greater parish, Bocholtz |
| Deanery | Kerkrade |
| Diocese | Roermond |
| Province | Utrecht |
The James the Greater Church (Dutch: Jacobus de Meerderekerk) is a Roman Catholic church, located on the Pastoor Neujeanstraat 6 in Bocholtz, Netherlands. First mentioned in the 14th century, the current church was built in 1869 by Pierre Cuypers. It was extended by Harry Koene in 1953, creating a larger choir, and adding an apse and sacristy. The building has been in continues use as a parish church for the Bocholtz saint James the Greater parish since 1873. The church holds a relic of pope Cornelius, which was subject of a yearly pilgrimage during the early and mid 20th century, and was listed as a national monument in 1967.
The first mention of a chapel in Bocholtz dates from 1373, which was part of the parish of Simpelveld in the diocese of Liège. This chapel was built near a local guest house for pilgrims traveling between Aachen and Santiago de Compostela. Archeological evidence of earlier buildings on this location was found during work on the clergy house in 1953, when the foundations were found of a single nave building dating back to the 12th century, surrounded by foundations of a larger building from the late Middle Ages. Mass for the people in Bocholtz was the responsibility of the parson from Simpelveld, which was a common cause for dissatisfaction. Records from 1487 describe a request for the bishop of Liege to rebuild the chapel dedicated to James the Greater in Bocholtz, which was granted as long as mass was taken in Simpelveld. In 1559 Simpelveld and Bocholtz became part of the diocese of Roermond when Philip II of Spain reorganised the dioceses in the Netherlands.
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