St. John the Baptist Church

Parish church of the Brugse Poort district, established in neo-Gothic style in the 1860s. The original plans by architect J. Van Hoecke were modified and completed by his successor Leclerc-Restiaux after his death and after the first construction collapsed in 1863, in 1866. Brick building finished with hard stone. Three-nave basilical ship of six bays, transept of two bays flanked by side chapels. Western facade elaborated with a west tower of three divisions with a large pointed-arch portal with archivolts. Pointed-arch frieze, windows, and belfry openings. Flanked by two smaller gable ends with two-part pointed-arch windows and oculi. Side facades rhythmically structured by cut buttresses between which are three-part pointed-arch windows. Also pointed-arch upper lights and staging holes under the cornice. Interior: pointed-arch arcades on columns with ashlar polygonal bases and Corinthian capitals, medallions in the spandrels. Pierced parapet below the upper lights. Ribbed vaults between main arches resting on half pilasters with Corinthian capitals. The original neo-Gothic interior decoration, executed by the Bressers workshop (possibly according to a design by Bethune) between 1863 and 1889, was largely removed in 1976. Some scenes in the choir and the medallions in the spandrels have been preserved. Furnishings. Neo-Gothic, such as altars, choir stalls, confessionals, pulpit (1837) and communion rail, presumably made by the Bethune workshop.

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