About us | St. Mary's Church Twente

About St. Mary's

Discover the story of Anglican Church Twente, our Anglican tradition,

and the welcoming international community that has called St Mary's home since 1979.

A warm welcome

Founded in 1979, Anglican Church Twente is an English-speaking church serving the East of the Netherlands and neighbouring Germany. Based at the historic St Mary's Chapel on the Weldam Estate, we are a welcoming international community where people of all nationalities and backgrounds come together to worship, grow in faith, and build lasting friendships.

Whether you have been part of the Anglican tradition for many years or are simply looking for a church to call home, you are warmly welcome.

Who we are

Anglican Church Twente is part of the Church of England's Diocese in Europe and belongs to the worldwide Anglican Communion, a family of churches with more than 80 million members across the globe.

Our congregation reflects the international character of our region. Many members live throughout Twente and the wider East of the Netherlands, while others travel from neighboring Germany and further afield.

Some members have worshipped here for decades, while others have only recently arrived in the Netherlands. Together we form a diverse and welcoming church family united by our faith in Jesus Christ.

Church of England

Diocese in Europe

Founded in 1979

Our mission

At St Mary's, we seek to share God's love by worshipping together, caring for one another, and serving our local and international community. Our mission is to:

Offer Christian worship according to the rites of the Church of England in the English language.
Provide pastoral care to all who seek support, encouragement, and prayer.
Foster a welcoming and lively fellowship where people of all nationalities can grow together in faith.
Support Christian outreach and ministry, sharing God's love wherever there is need.

Guided by the Anglican tradition, we strive to be a church where people can encounter Christ, deepen their faith, and experience the love and fellowship of a caring Christian community.

Our Anglican tradition

Anglican Church Twente is part of the Church of England's Diocese in Europe and the worldwide Anglican Communion, a global family of churches united by a shared faith, worship, and heritage.

The Anglican tradition is the product of a long historical development. It is both Catholic and Protestant—rooted in the faith and traditions of the early Church while embracing the principles of the Reformation.

We preserve the historic ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons, and celebrate worship according to the rich liturgical tradition of the Church of England.

Our history reaches back long before the Reformation. For many centuries, the Church in England was part of the Western Church in communion with Rome. Following the Reformation in the sixteenth century, the Church of England became an independent church while retaining much of its historic worship, episcopal leadership, and sacramental life.

As Anglicans, we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who revealed God's love through His life, death, and resurrection.

We are called to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbours as ourselves.

Guided by Scripture, tradition, and reason, we seek to grow in faith while welcoming honest questions and thoughtful exploration.

Our story

Anglican Church Twente was founded in 1979 to serve the growing English-speaking community in the East of the Netherlands. What began as a small congregation meeting for worship has grown into a welcoming international church, bringing together people from many countries and Christian traditions.

Today, St Mary's continues that mission by offering English-language worship, pastoral care, fellowship, and outreach from the beautiful St Mary's Chapel on the Weldam Estate.

A vision that started it all

Our first Chaplain, Prof. Dr. Sjoerd L. Bonting, founded the Twente Chaplaincy in 1979 after recognising the need for an English-speaking Anglican church in the region. Under his leadership, the congregation held its first services in Sint Lambertuskerk Hengelo before finding a permanent home at St Mary's Chapel on the Weldam Estate.

His vision and dedication laid the foundations for the vibrant international church community that continues to flourish today.

Prof. Dr. Sjoerd L. Bonting

1st Chaplain (1979 - 1985)

Leadership through the years

Since 1979, Anglican Church Twente has been served by a number of dedicated chaplains who have faithfully led our congregation through different seasons of its history. We give thanks for their ministry and the foundations they have laid for future generations.