Sint-Laurentiuskerk

In 1570 Saint Laurentius was elevated to an independent parish, apart from Assenede. The old St. Laurentius Chapel (1377) became a parish church. In the 19th century, this church was in such a bad state that a renewal was imperative. The new impressive neo-Gothic church designed by the Ghent architect Edmond de Perre-Montigny was inaugurated in 1879.
At the end of the First World War, in the beginning of November 1918, the roof and several stained-glass windows were damaged during the demolition of a bridge.  The repairs were made by the Ghent architect A.R. Janssens in 1920. With the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940, the Belgian army dynamited the tower "as a precaution". Unfortunately the debris landed on the roof of the church. The transept and the choir, the original stained-glass windows from 1900, the neo-Gothic paintings from 1900 by artist Remi Goethals and the organ of the Reygaert brothers were destroyed. The damage was repaired only in 1950-1952. The ship, the choir and transept were rebuilt in the original neo-Gothic style. The tower was replaced by a sleek and modern construction of 65 meters.
The interior is impressively clear and evenly painted. The presbytery and the side choirs are separated by beautiful iron gates from 1902 (ornamental metal-worker I. Blanquaert).
The furniture is uniform neo-Gothic and specially manufactured for the new church in the years 1880-1900. The high altar and side altars contain numerous images from the period of and after 1891.
 
 
 

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