Saint Anthony of Padua Church

H. Anthony of Padua Church A three-aisled, aisleless, pseudo-basilica monastery church built in neo-Gothic style between 1850-52 under the direction of city architect J. Stevens. The façade reportedly did not meet the ideal image the friars had formed of neo-Gothic architecture and was therefore completely redesigned in 1886 under the guidance of architects J. De Somme and E. Van Hoecke-Peeters. This largely cemented façade is dominated by a central pointed arch niche housing the main portal and a rose window at the top. An elaborately crafted portal with a blind arch field, higher sections, and a cross flower, flanked by pinnacles. An analogous motif, but heavier, also marks the corners of the façade. Tudor-arched side portals above which is a projecting pointed arch frieze; above that, a spacious two-part pointed arch window. The façade is crowned by a rising cornice on consoles, ending in a finial with a cross.

In the walls of the side aisles, seven pointed arch windows with iron rod divisions; between them are thin buttresses without any diagonal supports. Rectangular choir, crowned by an octagonal wooden bell turret with a slender, tapered spire.

The interior is covered with wooden ribbed vaults. Pointed transverse arches rest on tapering columns with acanthus leaf capitals.

White marble memorial plates in the choir: l. "LUDOVICI JosephI praesULIs benIgnI DeXtera beneDIXIt aC posUIt." r. "eX Voto, aUspICe antonIo LUDoVICUs LIMboUrg posUIt".

Furnishings: Paintings: "H. Virgin as protector of the Franciscan Family" (ca. 1863, Frans Anseele, Ghent); "Stigmatisation of St. Francis" (1846, P. Van Hanselaere, Ghent, modified and enlarged by him in 1852); "Appearance of the Child Jesus to St. Anthony" (1864, Eugeen Van Maldeghem).

Furniture: Stations of the Cross (1861, Eug. Van Maldeghem); choir stalls from the abolished monastery in Sint-Niklaas; pulpit (1864-65, P. De Meyer, Turnhout); confessionals (1866-67, P. De Meyer; 1880, L. Bartels).

Stichting Open Kerken