“Imagine,” someone whispered a century ago “a grand church gracing Kastanjeplein.” The Sint-Bonifatiuskerk once stood here in Amsterdam Oost. Its story is one of ambition faith and ultimately, change.
The Sint-Bonifatiusparochie formed in 1882. A temporary church quickly arose. However the congregation soon desired a more permanent house of worship.
Initially A.C. Bleijs was considered as the architect. But the church board feared architectural monotony. Bleijs had already designed other buildings nearby. E.J. Margry a student of P.J.H. Cuypers stepped in.
Between 1884 and 1886 Margry constructed the Sint-Bonifatiuskerk in Neo-Gothic style. The cost was 151405 Dutch guilders. Bishop P.M. Snickers of Haarlem consecrated the new three-aisled church on August 23 1886. It accommodated 1850 people. A.C. Bleijs designed the Maria-altaar and communion bench. In 1902 a Maarschalkerweerd organ was installed.
Interestingly the church tower was added much later in 1925. The design had been scaled down. It reached a height of 65 meters instead of the planned 90 meters.
The Sint-Bonifatiuskerk interior became richly detailed over time. Stained glass windows and a colorful design scheme came to life between 1890 and 1925. A. Damen a painter from the parish completed the wall polychroming between 1914 and 1924. A. Asperslagh crafted stained glass windows in the transept and aisles. The side aisle windows depicted scenes from the life of Saint Boniface.
Sadly attendance declined. In 1982 the large church called “De Grote Bon” closed. The congregation moved to a smaller chapel “De Kleine Bon.” This chapel was inside the rectory. The ABG parish now uses it. ABG stands for Anna Bonifatius and Gerardus Majella.
The Sint-Bonifatiuskerk was demolished in 1984. A nursing home now stands on the site. But a piece of the Sint-Bonifatiuskerk lives on. On the nursing home roof a metal frame holds the old church clock faces. So even now the Sint-Bonifatiuskerk marks time.