Parish Church of Saint Gangulfus

First bidding place dating back to the time of Christianization and traditionally founded by Saint Livinus. Elevated to parish church in 1230. The old church was rebuilt after the collapse of the tower in 1723, constructed between 1724-1726, with the tower designed by the Ghent architect J. Motte. According to a plan drawn up in 1778 in connection with the expansion of the church (widening of the northern aisle), it concerned a three-nave church with a transept, crossing tower, and a flat-ended choir and side choirs. Commissioned by Mayor Marquis van Rode, Rodriguez de Evora y Vega, a new church was built in the second quarter of the 19th century, designed by the Ghent architect Louis Minard. The new church was built on the site of the old one, incorporating the former crossing tower into the new façade (to the east); the church was now oriented to the west instead of the east, and likely, demolition material from the old church was reused. The first stone was laid in 1827, and the church was consecrated in 1830. West-oriented church with an enclosed cemetery behind. Simple three-nave hall church with partially embedded east tower. Semi-circular ending choir inscribed in a five-sided closure. Sacristy in the southern choir aisle, storage with former choir tribune in the northern choir aisle. The low, square tower base shows inside above the wooden ceiling of the portal still traces of masonry in unhewn natural stone, which allows one to assume that during the construction of the new church in 1724-1726, the old tower base of the former church (13th century?) may have been reused. The façade features regularly hewn sandstone cladding. From the cordon list, on which the round arch list of the tower door rests, the tower was built from brick with sandstone corner chains. In the middle above the door: sandstone round-arched niche with Sacred Heart statue on a console and below a curved drip list. Long and steep ascent to the octagonal tower compartment. Spatula-shaped side lights reportedly added during restoration works in the 20th century. Original high slate tower spire shortened after storm damage. Arch-shaped bell openings in flat frames with ears and drip list. Staging openings under the profiled roof edge. Furthermore, in the façade, two pointed arch windows with decorative frames. Ship under slate gable roof on brick side walls, each provided with six simple round-arched lights, bordered by sandstone corner blocks and on a sandstone plinth. Overhanging roof edge with hanging gutter on a row of consoles. Choir tribune illuminated by a semi-circular wheel window. Furthermore, a cemented choir with round-arched lights. Interior. Plastered and uniformly painted Neoclassical church interior. Half dome above the choir enriched with rosettes in diamond-shaped and octagonal cassettes. Corinthian pilasters decorated with angel heads. Main frieze with acanthus vines in the stucco frieze and cornice on brackets, at the height of the choir tribune crowned with the coat of arms of the lord of Rode. Furnishings. 18th-century oak communion rail. Confessional in Louis XV style from the 18th century. Mahogany pulpit from 1830 in late Empire style. Organ signed L.C. Van Peteghem and dated 1793.

Onroerend Erfgoed Vlaanderen