Emelgem Church

0000 In the valley of the Mandel, the sea has receded, dry places are appearing here and there and the first inhabitants of Emelgem come to settle, albeit in huts that they built on stilts because the region was rather swampy. They were illiterate and thus left no written or other evidence of their existence. Actually, we know very little about our ancestors, it's a bit like our grandfathers said: 'hit it with your clack'. Certain sources speak of a Germanic, a certain Emilo, others say that he was a franc, who came to settle here with his family in his 'heem'. Who knows? On the other side of Europe, the Christian faith arose with Saint Peter as the first Pope, but he probably never heard of Emelgem either... But what is not can still come. 880 The notorious Normans visit the region and after their visit there is little left behind but rubble. 1216 First mention of Emelgem as a parish (State Archives of Bruges) 1340 Emelgem and the whole region is ravaged by the plague. 1452 The people of Ghent do their part and come to plunder and burn the region. 1566 The Iconoclasm, after the passage of the two bands of looters, little remains of the church of Emelgem. 1580 Emelgem again shares in the pieces when the Calvanist de la Noue, in the service of William of Orange, tries to take the castle in Ingelmunster. It is only an attempt, but the population does not benefit at all. 1587 Plague and other diseases, marauding armies and famine are the cause of Emelgem being as good as deserted. The center is overgrown with herb. 1589 Freebooters from Ostend and Sluis invade the region, including Izegem goes up in flames. To put a stop to these raids, Philip II had forts built in Tielt, St. Eloois Vijve and Emelgem, manned by military garrisons. 1637 The veneration of Mary reaches unprecedented heights in Emelgem. 1638 Plague again in the region. A pest house is built in Emelgem. 1764 Jacobus Penninck, a notorious villain from Izegem, is caught and imprisoned. It is to him that we owe the proverb 'he is known as a penny'. 1812 Louise de Brancas, last princess of Izegem, is beheaded in Paris. She owned numerous properties in Emelgem, including Princess windmill on the dam. The Prinsessestraat is also named after her. 1816 Early start of education in Emelgem, the poor. 1821 First real school for servants and maids is founded. 1828 The properties of the princess de Brancas in Emelgem (and there were many) are sold by public auction. 1860 The canal from Roeselare to the Lys is dug. The canal is popularly known as 'the dry bread canal'. Everything was dug out with a spade and after a day of 12 hours of hard work, the workers had not even earned enough for a loaf of bread. Already during the works on the railway, the first strikes broke out in Lendelede. 1782 The canal is officially opened on 1 January. 1886 A high pedestrian bridge connects Emelgem with Izegem. 1900 Around the time of the change, 2000 people were employed in the shoe industry in Izegem, of which a large part were from Emelgem. In 1800 it was 90 and in 1950 it reached 5000. Between 1960 and 1970, we experienced the demise of this once thriving industry. 1914 Outbreak of World War I. Emelgem regrets numerous civilian and military casualties, but there is also a great lack of everything that is vital among the population. To alleviate the greatest need, 'the work of childhood' is established, as well as the 'aid and food committee'. The school and monastery were taken over by the occupying forces as a lazaret and education was continued as best as possible in private buildings. The railway and the canal are a great opportunity for the enemy, who makes full use of these supply routes. In the canals, a kind of cable lift is even built to tow heavy ships. (the steam boiler of the first Bismarck is still in Izegem) In the

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