Noordbroek

[NB: we have no information on the disappeared font of this church]. The entry for this church in the Dutch Rijksmonumentenregister [https://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/monumenten/31612] [accessed 11 November 2022] mentions no font in it. R. Steensma's De iconografie van de middeleeuwse doopvont in Nederland [JVLO_1999_15_De_iconografie_van_de_middeleeuwse_doopvont_in_Nederland.pdf] [accessed 11 November 2022] notes that lost baptismal font was located beneath the present painting of the Baptism of Christ. The entry for this church in the Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken [https://www.groningerkerken.nl/downloads/noordbroek_kerkbeschrijving_2021_herz_versie.pdf] [accessed 11 November 2022] reckons that the disappeared font must have stood in the west end, not far from the image of St. Christopher. An article on the possible finding of the baptismal font from Noordbroek "Verloren doopvont Noordbroek leek even terug" appeared on the 28 May 2010 edition of the Dagblad van het Noorden [https://dvhn.nl/archief/Verloren-doopvont-Noordbroek-leek-even-terug-20639765.html] [accessed 11 November 2022]; the object in question, although somewhat in the shape of a baptismal font, did not convince the experts about its function, although they agreed that it is of considerable age. An entry in Midden Groninger 1st June 2010 [URL not available] reported on the same finding as noted in the sources above and shared some of the doubts about the nature of the object; it did however report that it would br accessible for viewing: It is more plausible that the vessel was an almond mortar, perhaps from the baker in Noordbroek. Experts see the need to investigate this further. Before the bin is put into depot, it can be admired once in the cemetery of the church of Noordbroek on Saturday 5 June from 13.00 to 17.00 hrs. A communication from Pol Herman to BSI (e-maqil of 17 July 2022) provided the references above and also some background on Noorbroek and its past: "The old village of Noordbroek has disappeared together with its old church due to the floods and storms of the sea. Presumably this happened in or shortly after 1287. The village was re-established further west on higher ground. The current Romano-Gothic church was built in the first quarter of the fourteenth century. The wall work of the church showed that it was built in one go. In 1580 it became more difficult in the north. The city of Groningen was taken by the Spaniards. And our villages were sometimes troubled by the Protestant Gueux, sometimes by the Spaniards. In the same year 1580, the Gueux came here to plunder the village. The first time, they let themselves be bought off with plenty of food and drink and four Lion Talers. The second time, on May 21, they took the church robes and books with them. The smashing of the baptismal font was bought off with two Lion Talers and the destruction of the organ with twelve Talers. However, the metal pipes of the old organ had to be sacrificed again."