St. John's Church

Tradition has it that a first church was built here around 650, which was consecrated by Saint Elooi himself. The first church of Helkijn is said to have been served by the monks of the St. Martin's Abbey in Tournai. After all, the patronage of the parish church belonged to the Bishop of Tournai, who was also lord and partly owner of the Lordship of Helkijn.
The oldest identifiable church building dates from 1200. Archaeologists found the remains of a single-aisled Romanesque construction in Tournai stone in the substructure of the current St. John's Church.
Due to his strategic location on the border between the County of Flanders and the French-minded Tournai, Helkijn repeatedly played an important role on the military level. The church was destroyed many times.
In 1990 the interior was completely restored. The interior is now the result of a compromise between current data, differentiated white walls, coupled with a soft blue choir sky and original 18th century Baroque.

Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden