1899

1899 | 8 | 8|

Failure to pay the mortgage led the Social Democratic League to sell “Constantia”. It was bought by a Jesuit church community called “The Sower” (De Zaaier). Their original 17th century building was a clandestine or hidden church (schuilkerk) on the Keizersgracht, during the period of the Dutch Republic when Catholics were prohibited from meeting in publicly visible churches. The clandestine church was replaced by a purpose built church in 1837. The purchase of “Constantia” by the Jesuits dismayed the socialist owners of the building and it was only possible with the help of a middle man. The Jesuits converted the building, where – according to a Catholic newspaper – “until that time the devil had roamed and God had been so much defamed”. The new church was called Saint Joseph’s Chapel.