The Saint Dionysius Church in Heijen
Why was a new church built?
In the autumn of 1944, the old church on the Rijksweg (now Hoofdstraat) was severely damaged by acts of war. Restoration was impossible. Therefore, after the war, it was decided to build a new village centre. A new church would be part of it.
Construction pastor and design
Pastor Lambertus H. Rutten led the construction. He served as pastor from 1946 to 1961. His idea was to build a church that could be expanded later if more parishioners joined. Architectural firms F.H. Stoks from Venlo and A.J. Raedts from Amsterdam developed the design.
Construction was awarded to the company J. Coenders from Arcen. The costs were approximately 200,000 guilders. To finance the project, monthly collections were held among the nearly 1,000 parishioners. Another 2,200 guilders was collected during the laying of the foundation stone.
Construction and expansion
The foundation stone was laid in September 1954. The church was put into use on 26 November 1955, although the interior was not yet finished. In 1957, construction began on a new rectory next to the church, built by the firm Rutten from Bergen. The rectory was in use from 1958. In 1962, a garden design was created by J. Droessen and B. de Ruijter from Tilburg.
Later, the rectory lost its function due to parish mergers. It is now a private residence. In 1994, a small parish hall was added to the sacristy.
Patron saint
The church is dedicated to Saint Dionysius. According to tradition, he was the first bishop of Paris in the third century. Around the year 250, he was killed. He is often depicted holding his head in his hands. A statue of him stands in the church.
Municipal monument
At the end of 2023, the Saint Dionysius Church received the status of municipal monument. This was due to its distinctive architectural style and details important to local heritage, even though it is a post‑war reconstruction church.