Holy Joseph Chapel

Wayside chapel situated on a walled plot by the roadside, about halfway between Moerzeke center and the core of the hamlet of Kastel. Linden tree behind the chapel in the surrounding field.

Chapel built in 1866 by Henri Hornikx, an immigrant sheep farmer from Stramproy in Dutch Limburg, with the support of Countesses de Nieulant on land donated by the Nobbels-Peelman family from Sint-Niklaas. On four bluish-grey floor tiles set in the corners of the paved path around the chapel, the names of the donors are inscribed: "H. Hornikx/ 1866", "the Countesses de Nieulant/ 1866", "L. Nobbels/ Pel. Peelman/1866", "D.E.W. Heer/ Pastor De Bock/1866". The chapel was inaugurated in March 1866. It was restored around 1977 and in 1996 by the confraternity of St. Joseph.

The brick chapel with a square plan and chamfered corners is topped by a strongly overhanging octagonal tent roof with slate resting on eight pillars, at the height of the four sides of the chapel featuring a triangular pediment, and crowned with a wrought iron cross. The pillars under the eaves are polygonal on a base with a round cornice. The pediment of the façade is provided with a ribbon with the inscription "St. Joseph". Chapel built in red brick with accents of sintered brick for the frames of the pointed arch openings, the base, the corner chains, and the outlining mouse-tooth frieze. Rectangular door with an openworked upper panel featuring twisted balusters and a pointed arch transom. The window openings in the sidewalls are also pointed arch-shaped. White-painted altar with polychrome statue of St. Joseph with the Child Jesus on a stepped statue console.

Stichting Open Kerken