St-Bavo

The first deed concerning the Church of St. Bavo of Boechoutdie that has been recovered comes from 974, in which Emperor Otto II (Germany) gives the St Bavo church of Boechout back to the St Bavo's Abbey of Ghent, after the monks had lost it due to their flight from the Normans, around the middle of the 9th century. In the 16th century, the church was severely ravaged three times. In 1897 the church was demolished, while retaining some parts, and enlarged back to plans by Eugeen Gife, provincial architect in Antwerp. The high choir in white stone is said to date from 1502; The transept, in brick with layers of bacon in white stone, dates from 1639. Of the old furniture, only the pulpit with wrought iron banister, the four foist chairs, the baptismal font and the small St. Bavo statue on the central pillar of the large gate remain. Included the cross is the tower 50.5 meters high. Since 1985, a new memorial has been built along the south side by Vic Gentils, in permanent memory of a great Boechoutenaar, Jan Frans Willems. The choir of the church, with the funerary monument "van Colen" was already classified in 1936. The transept and cemetery were protected in 1976. The entire building was protected as a monument, for its historical value in 1996. Nave and tower rebuilt in 1897-98. - Provincial architect: Louis poison.
Over the centuries, the church has been burned down three times and looted, demolished, rebuilt, renewed, enlarged several times. Only the high choir, in white stone, is a remnant of the old church (early 16th century). Protected in 1936- The transept, in brick with layers of bacon in white stone, dates from 1639. Transverse nave and cemetery protected in 1976- Complete building protected as a monument, for its historical value in 1996.

Leo.Benneke