The Institute for Christian Cultural Heritage (ICCE) is specialized in the field of the history of Christian art and music.
Founded in 1963, the ICCE was originally named the ‘Institute for Liturgical Studies’;
the new name was introduced in 2009.
The ICCE has two sections.
The Christian Architecture and Iconography section studies the architecture and interiors of – mainly Medieval – churches and what they reveal about their use and interpretations
on the basis of furniture, architecture, imagery and symbolism found, as well as written source material.
We distil ritual meanings from the shape of churches in the Netherlands and abroad, and link them to local devotional traditions.
The Hymns and Church Music section studies the musical Christian heritage.
The research focuses on the study of church organs, their imagery and the ideas about music that they convey, as well as on the Christian musical tradition, hymn texts and the musicological interpretation of church music.
Making Christian heritage accessible
The ICCE aims to bring historic churches in Friesland and Groningen to the attention of the public.
These churches are true cultural treasures –
in some of them the interior has remained practically unchanged for centuries.
This heritage brings us into direct contact with the past.
The results of research into these churches will be made available to a wide audience within the framework of a joint project with the Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken and the Waddenfonds.
Plans have been made to establish a web platform and to plot routes along the churches.
ICCE staff members regularly publish articles in the journal of the Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken (SOGK).
This foundation awarded the ICCE the 2010 badge of honour for its research into and the dissemination of knowledge about the Dutch, and particular Groningen, religious heritage.
