The Pilgrim Fathers
The name Old or Pilgrim Fathers Church of Delfshaven, also known as the Pilgrim Fathers Church, refers to a group of English believers: the Pilgrim Fathers. They fled from England to the Netherlands at the beginning of the 17th century as religious refugees. After a twelve-year stay in Amsterdam and Leiden, they decided in 1620 to venture across to the 'New World', hoping to find a new homeland there. In the harbor of Delfshaven near the church they embarked to start their adventurous journey with the 'Speedwell'. The departure from Delfshaven in 1620 is depicted in a large painting called Embarkation of the Pilgrims, painted by Robert W. Weir for the United States Congress. The artwork hangs in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington since 1844.
In Southampton, England, other fellow believers joined them and made the perilous crossing to Cape-Cod-Bay with the ship the 'Mayflower'. Since the Speedwell showed severe leakage this ship was left behind in Southampton. These Pilgrims are considered co-founders of present-day America. Their thanksgiving service for the first harvest in their new homeland has become the annual Thanksgiving Day in America.
In the church, the large stained glass window, depicting the 'Speedwell', recalls this history.
A permanent exhibition dedicated to these Pilgrim Fathers has been set up in the Ankie-Verbeek Ohr auditorium. There is also a 7-minute movie that tells the story of the Pilgrims.