Sint-Amanduskerk

 
The church and the striking parsonage next to it were built in 1865. They were designed by Antoine Verbeke, an architect from Bruges. At that time, both the secular and clerical architecture flaunted with the new neo-Gothic style. Both facades are constructed using red brick coming from West-Vlaanderen. Only the capstones and the window frames are constructed in stone. Even the walls of the monastery behind the church were constructed using the same bricks.
These buildings at the crossing of two important roads determine the outlook of the village. The north-western wall of the church is composed out of several interesting harmonious elements such as the asymmetrically positioned tower marked by four castle-like turrets, the lancet window with Gothic tracery above the portal, the round staircase turret in the corner between the portal and the tower, the facade of the transept with its high gable, etc.
On old postcards, one can see that the interior was plastered and decorated with neo-Gothic polychrome. However, the church was severally damaged after World War I. In 1922 it was reconstructed based on the original plans. The warm polychromy of the church still stands out. The pictorial decorations in the ogive niches around the altar represent the twelve Apostles. Above the altar there are neo-Gothic stained glass windows. Most of the furniture, including the porch and the stone baptismal font, is neo-Gothic as well. The colours of the marble of the new altar, are also completely following the neo-Gothic tradition.
The pillars represent the saints. The pillar with the patron saint, St. Amandus, stands right up front. Outside on the northern wall used to be a beautiful Calvary. The statues were exposed to all types of weather, only covered by a small roof. Unfortunately these statues have been severely damaged.

More information

Comments Statistics

| | Public | Dutch • French • German