St. Anthony's Chapel

Striking chapel located high in relation to the street level, between the border with Sint-Maria-Oudenhove (Zottegem) and the street corner with Berendries, this is on the route of the former heerweg Oudenaarde-Ninove. Already at the end of the 16th century there was a chapel somewhere, in the 18th century and possibly already in the 17th century the St. Anthony's Chapel attracted pilgrims. Current neo-Gothic road chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony abbot built, replacing older chapel, designed by architect G. d'Haeyer from 1901. In the wide sloping road verge, after the dedication (08.09.1908), a monumental double stone entrance staircase was erected; curved stair arms and landing in front of the chapel with neo-Gothic balustrade. Decorative iron closure of the whole made in 1907-1908 by three blacksmiths (A. Ceuterick, E. De Vleeschauwer and J. Van der Linden). Complete restoration of the chapel, ending with interior painting and restoration of the staircase, in 1989-1995. One-aisled neo-Gothic chapel of three bays, ending in lower choir of one bay with three-sided closure. Well-kept brick construction with processing of bluestone and slate roofing. Roof rider in the middle of the steep gable roof between roofs. Typical verticalizing character of high-ascending construction enhanced by the use of slender cut buttresses and lancet windows. Saint Anthony statue with pig, polychrome and with gold leaf decoration by Bressers-Blanchaert, placed in 1908 in elaborate niche above the entrance door. Series of nine polychrome bas-reliefs in glazed rectangular wooden frame with representations from the life of Saint Anthony, installed in 1907 all around above the plinth of the chapel: two original ones of terra-cotta, the rest of natural stone from the 1960s. Calvary of 1908 with polychrome stone sculpture group on altar-shaped pedestal, executed by L. Blanchaert and set up in the round forecourt of the chapel as one of seven stations of Our Lady of Seven Woes; six other stations of 1908, relief scenes of baked potted earth by Picha and Vrombaut (Ghent) measured against the curved cemented walls of the rotunda enclosed by the stairs. Neo-Gothic decorated chapel interior. Baking and natural stone cross rib vaulting resting on ditto pilasters with schalken. Plastered walls with rich neo-Gothic polychromy by G. Minnaert-De Roo; in addition to various template motifs, friezes and text tapes, the choir arch of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows and six angels with passion symbols arced. Wooden rood screen with blind balustrade and closed entrance staircase. Mobilair: Polychrome neo-Gothic stone and marble altar with carved altarpiece by Bressers-Blanchaert. Neo-Gothic wooden pedestal (sacrificial block ?) with polychrome statue of Saint Anthony abbot (17th century ?) from the former chapel. Polychrome statue of Saint Anthony abbot and Saint Joseph, both on polychrome wall console and under ditto canopy. Holy Rita figurine. Beautiful Stations of the Cross with multichrome relift scenes in medallion shape. Coloured stained glass windows with saints, choir window signed Jos Casier (Ghent) and dated 1902.

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