RC St Helena’s Church

The Roman Catholic Saint Helena’s Church (Helenakerk) in Aalten was built in 1951 on the foundations of its destroyed predecessor from 1895. The current church is situated on the southern edge of the town centre, along the Boven-Slinge stream. Since 2022, the building has no longer been used for worship and is now in private hands.

From 1859, Aalten’s Roman Catholic church stood at the beginning of Dijkstraat, between the current house numbers 2 and 4. On 10 May 1893, this church was destroyed by fire. The adjacent school, to which a shed was added, was converted into a temporary church, and the congregation had to raise funds to build a new one.

Construction of the RC Church on the Current Site (1895–1950)

A more spacious plot on the opposite side of Dijkstraat was chosen and purchased from Mr H. Driessen and the Reformed Diaconate. Architect Alfred Tepe designed the new church. Building contractors H.W. Koelman and P. Lelivelt completed the construction for ƒ34,675.

The church tower featured four tiers: the entrance at the bottom, a large pointed-arch window with polyfora above it, a clock, and pointed-arch friezes. The tower was topped with a needle spire. A smaller stair turret was added to the right of the church tower. The nave was built as a pseudobasilica, with round-arched windows and leadlight windows in the side walls. The bells, supplied by Gebr. Edelbraak from Gescher, cost ƒ1,061.25.

The solemn consecration of the church took place on 9 September 1895, performed by Mgr. van de Wetering, Archbishop of Utrecht. The festive address was delivered by the Reverend Antoon Driessen. In 1920, a new presbytery was also built; up until then, the old one, which had been spared by the fire, had still been in use.

At the end of World War II, two bombs landed near the church, destroying the building except for the tower.

Reconstruction of the RC Church (1952–present)

In 1950, it was decided to demolish the severely damaged church and build a new, larger church on the old foundations. Architect Jan van Dongen from Apeldoorn designed the new building, integrating the existing tower. The building contractor was the firm Kemp from Silvolde, and the construction costs amounted to ƒ290,000. Construction workers from Aalten also contributed to its completion. The blessing took place on 3 February 1952, performed by Mgr. Huurneman.

Due to declining church attendance, the Roman Catholic Saint Helena’s Church was eventually closed for worship. The final Eucharistic service took place on 12 June 2022. The Parish of SS Paul and Ludger East Achterhoek sold the church and the adjacent presbytery. Since then, parishioners have been able to attend Eucharistic services in Groenlo or Lichtenvoorde. For prayer services, they are welcome at the Old Helena Church on the Markt, which is owned by the Protestant Congregation of Aalten.

A statue of Saint Helena used to stand in the garden of the Roman Catholic Saint Helena’s Church. In 2002, this statue was relocated to the garden of the Oude Helenakerk, on the Landstraat side, roughly 250 metres to the north as the crow flies.