Raard Church

Raard or Rauwerd (West-Dongeradeel) is located on the border of West- and Oost-Dongeradeel. The village coat of arms features the cross banner, the symbol of the old church patron, John the Baptist. The village is located on a mound on the road from Holwerd to Dokkum at the Hooge- or Klaarkampsterbrug and near the Holwerder-vaart. The population, as far as Reformed or Reformed (synodal), belongs to the federal SOW municipality of Foudgum/ Bornwird/ Raard. This municipality has two church buildings, the Reformed Church in Foudgum and the Reformed Church in Raard. The Reformed Churches in Raard and Bornwird were sold off in the context of the formation of the SOW municipality and transferred to the Stichting Alde Fryske Tsjerken in 1979. Nowadays, services are held alternately in Raard and Foudgum. The first Reformed Church in Raard was built in 1893, probably shortly after the establishment of the Reformed community there. This church was replaced in 1918 by the current one, probably at the same location outside the village. It is a straight-closed hall church with a facade tower, portal and some Berlagian features (flat wall treatment, emphasis of the structurally important parts by means of natural stone blocks, round-arched windows). The spatial effect is characteristic of the smaller Reformed church buildings from that period. Several outbuildings have been added to the east and south-east side of the church, which is otherwise in a good state of repair, used for childcare, meetings and as storage space. The Reformed Church of Raard (until around 1913 Foudgum ca) had its own minister from 1897 to 1998. Since 1987 it has been shared with the Reformed Foudgum in the federal SOW community. The federated SOW congregation of Foudgum/Bornwird/Raard currently shares a (Reformed) minister (Rev. JP Boomsma) with neighboring Hantum.

The Petruskerk in Lichtaard dates from the Middle Ages. An inscription on the gallery fence warns the visitors: 'Be perpetrators of the word and not just hearers'. The church is often rented out for all kinds of meetings.

The Maria church of Foudgum is on the remains of a mound. Only a few parts of the tower remain of the original medieval Romanesque church. The current church building dates from 1808. The church is known for its predecessor Francois Haverschmidt (pseudonym Piet Paaltjens).