Saints Michael and Cornelius and Ghislenus Church

Very picturesquely situated on an eminence on the right side of the outer bend of the old Lys bend, so-called "Machelen-put". Preserved oval, partly walled cemetery accessible via the current Gildestraat, Karperstraat and Leihoekstraat, levelled in 1735 and protected against flooding. In 1738 it was fitted with beautiful iron gates on Louis 15th-century fence pillars with ornamental vase crowning. Another one preserved on Leihoekstraat. Oldest mention dates back to 1163 when the chapter of St. Peter in Lille acquired patronage. Heavy square base of the tower of Tournai stone, possibly Romanesque (preserved trumpets inside) and west façade of Tournai limestone dating back to the 13th or 14th century. In 1423, the brotherhood of Saints Cornelius and Ghislenus was founded. Relics of the saints probably brought from Rome in the first half of the 15th century by Gerard of Gavere-Schorisse, lord of Machelen. From then on it was an important place of pilgrimage against "seskens" with an annual pilgrimage called "Machelen Gulde". Destruction of the church, loss of the relics and interruption of the guild activities in the 16th century due to religious turmoil. Great revival of the pilgrimage (including miraculous healings) and reconstruction of the church in the first half of the 17th century, including the new relic of Saint Cornelius in a silver horn-shaped reliquary, donated by bishop Boonen in 1621. Reconstruction of an octagonal tower according to church accounts of 1623-24 and of a hall church in late Gothic style in 1642 (see wall anchors in north transept). Re-establishment of the guild in 1643 under the impetus of pastor Vander Cruyssen. According to the statutes, part of the proceeds of the pilgrimage had to be used for the beautification of the church. Mainly in the first half of the 18th century, the interior was renovated and enriched under the direction of pastor Barry (1704-1730) and Meheus (11730-1739). Important renovations and further enrichment of the church in the second half of the 18th century with: new bluestone door frame in W. façade from 1752 and new larger chancel and sacristy from 1767 (see stucco vault with date "ANO DNI 17 67", designed by architect J.B. Simoens. Standardization of the interior of the nave (with open wooden roof trusses) with new choir by inserting stone plastered vaults on plastered columns, carried out in 1768 by S. Pillorij (see church accounts). New imposing mobile realized by sculptor K.F. Van Poucke. In 1801, the church tower was badly damaged and provided with a new lower roof. Restoration started with the tower in 1914 under the direction of architect Henri Geirnaert, interrupted by the First World War in which the tower was again severely damaged in 1918; Work resumed in 1920 with, among other things, a new south portal and a false transept. Recent exterior restoration works under the direction of architectural firm Bressers, completed in 1989. Plan of a three-aisled hall church of three bays, non-projecting transept with crossing tower on square base, side choirs of two bays with three-sided closure and high choir with two projecting bays and three-sided closure. Old, attached sacristy to north choir, 18th-century sacristy in the southwest corner between the high choir and south choir; hexagonal stair turret and portal on south side. West façade built of Tournai limestone in irregular pattern, other parts of brick with the use of sandstone. Beeches and corn under separate gable roofs (slates), high octagonal spire with pear crowning on tower. West façade with three gables supported by carved buttresses. Central façade with typical 18th-century door in bluestone mirrored arch frame, according to church accounts of 1752, executed by J. Turman. Crowning Gothic pointed arch window under cornice. Blind side gables with brick top, probably built in 1642 (formerly pent roofs). Side aisles and choirs with high pointed arch windows tracery to Gothic pattern and arched windows in the chancel and sacristy. North side with basket-arched door with date 1642, south portal added during restoration of 1920. North transept façade: spout with braiding and year anchors 1642, similar façade to south transept added in 1920. Octagonal tower section with basket-arched reverberation holes under anchored layers of bacon. Interior. Currently fairly uniformly plastered and colourfully painted 18th-century interior of a hall church with three equal naves separated by Tuscan columns with heavy entasis and round-arched arcade (originally not plastered). Vaulting with cross rib vaults, installed in 1786 under the partly preserved 17th-century wooden vault. Heavy crossing with bundled pillars with half-columns, on the choir side with lecterns for the churchwardens, vaulted with cross rib vault with bell hole to the east. Ribs ending in corbels, originally carved in natural stone, covered with stucco in the 18th century. Choirs also separated by round-arched arcade and vaulted with cross-rib vaults. High choir with beautiful ceiling and wall painting depicting the Old Testament, mouldings and bas-reliefs and on the choir wall above the panelling, six figures on canvas: Our Lady, Sacred Heart, Saint Paul, Saint Ghislenus, Saint Peter and Saint Michael including several in stucco mouldings. Mobile. Paintings: Saint Cornelius Heals a Sick Man, altarpiece of south side altar, 16th century; Our Lady and Child presenting the Rosary to Saint Dominic Guzman, altarpiece of the north side altar, Flemish school, 18th century; Adoration of the Magi, Flemish school, 18th century; Death of Our Lady, Flemish school, 18th century. Sculpture: Saint Cornelius in high altar by K.F. Van Poucke, 1783, marble. Monumental marble high altar in classicist style, by K.F. Van Poucke, 1783. North side altar of Our Lady, portico altar of marble and wood, from 1768 with tomb by J. Martens. South side altar of Saint Cornelius, portico altar of marble and wood, from 1768 with tomb by J. Martens. Wainscoting in choir with choir stalls, from 1715, marbled and gilded in 1720 by A. Van den Berghe, now decapitated. Wainscoting with four incorporated confessionals, from 1731 as well as the churchwardens' pews and lecterns on the crossing pillars, from 1732, wainscoting under the rood screen with armament and baptismal font, from 1736, wainscoting of nave with two incorporated tour portals, from 1737 and panelling of the chancel from 1768, all executed by L. Eeckelaer with reliefs by L. Vanhelderberghe. Communion rail in neo-Renaissance style, from 1906 by R. Rooms. Pulpit of 1784 by K.F. Van Poucke, marble and wood, with a statue of a woman under the tub: Our Mother of the Holy Church.

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