Panel 5 Pauluskerk
A growing neighbourhood needs large churches. Members of the Reformed Church in Elsrijk could attend the Bethel Church from 1935 onwards, but within two years it was already too small. That would not happen to the church builders again. The Pauluskerk, with room for more than 900 chairs, was built on the Wolfert van Borsselenweg. Builders were busy in Elsrijk in the 1930s. Although there was a worldwide economic crisis, the spacious housing here sprang up like mushrooms. This was no coincidence. In those uncertain times, lenders preferred to invest in neighbourhoods with villas rather than in working-class streets.
Local Commander
During the war, German officers seized the …
A growing neighbourhood needs large churches. Members of the Reformed Church in Elsrijk could attend the Bethel Church from 1935 onwards, but within two years it was already too small. That would not happen to the church builders again. The Pauluskerk, with room for more than 900 chairs, was built on the Wolfert van Borsselenweg. Builders were busy in Elsrijk in the 1930s. Although there was a worldwide economic crisis, the spacious housing here sprang up like mushrooms. This was no coincidence. In those uncertain times, lenders preferred to invest in neighbourhoods with villas rather than in working-class streets.
Local Commander
During the war, German officers seized the large houses on the Wolfert van Borsselenweg and the Mr. Sixlaan. The Local Commander established his strategic location here. Therefore, the Keizer Karelweg and surrounding streets were largely closed off. The route to the Pauluskerk remained open. And that was a good thing, because several Jews and resistance fighters found a safe hiding place there. If there was danger, they hid in a room under the church. A radio was hidden in the pulpit, where they secretly listened to Radio Oranje. Even the tower of the Pauluskerk resisted. It disrupted the signal reception for the German radio station located in a kind of bunker in the dyke. The tower had to be demolished. Many churchgoers supported the resistance. Twelve of them were arrested and executed.
