Parish church of Saint Audomarus

Former parish church of Saint Audomarus Altar under the patronage of the Augustinian Abbey of Lo from 1174 to 1803. In 1968 merged with the parish of Wulveringem; since then used only occasionally for church services and sometimes as an exhibition space. Late Gothic church with towering west tower according to the typical church scheme of the coastal region; preserved sections of the former Romanesque church in the side aisles and transept. Call stone in the corner of the western tower façade with southern buttress. Calvary from 1732 against the southern transept façade. Beautifully situated at the northeast end of the village; walled cemetery; with linden trees lining the church path. To the north, three typical workers' cottages in the field (Zomerweg, numbers 1, 2, 3). To the south, walled former rectory (Vinkemstraat, number 22). To the east, still partly walled farm with old 17th-century core and well-preserved volumes (Zomerweg, number 4). The floor plan unfolds: a west tower, a three-nave ship of three bays, a slightly projecting transept with arms of a bay, and three choir aisles; main choir with three straight bays and a three-sided closure, side choirs with two straight bays and flat closure. Recent southern sacristy in the corner of the side choir with main choir closure. Current appearance from 1522, cf. year on two crossing pillars; however, preserved references to the earlier Romanesque construction in the ground plan and elevation of the side aisles and transept cf. ordnance different from later choir section, substructure of iron sandstone, central bay of southern side aisle façade and southern transept gable except for the gable top, made of limestone. Reused natural stone: iron sandstone for the substructure of the tower and choirs, limestone below the cornice of the main choir closure. Restoration in 1960 and 1970 under the direction of architect O. Vandaele (Lichtervelde), concerning: masonry of the tower, primarily the spire including restored and some renewed finials; side aisle facades; roofing; renewed wooden barrel vault inside. Yellow brick construction, except for the mentioned remnants of the Romanesque church. Gabled roofs (slate); three-nave ship under a gabled roof since restoration; previously, side aisles under leaning shed roof (corrugated sheets). Brick west tower with four stages marked by string courses above the chamfered plinth of iron sandstone. Superimposed corner buttresses with cut-offs, on the southeast corner replaced by a three-sided stair turret with brick spire. Regional brick Gothic cf. among other architectural decorations. Buttresses and stair turret: Tudor or round-arched openings with late Gothic tracery, per stage. Third tower stage: Tudor arch openings with fishbladder motif. West round-arched portal with profiled walk ending in ear-like ends; profiled wooden central post (16th) with representation of Saint Audomarus. Second tower stage: recessed pointed-arched three-light to the west, two-light to the north and south; profiled walk and slope. Pointed-arched belfry openings. Openwork parapet: coupled round arches inscribed in Tudor arch framing; corner pinnacles. Hexagonal brick spire decorated with finials at the corners. Pointing walls alternately openworked with three chapels and lookout windows. Slightly projecting west gables with crowning and Tudor arch niche. North and south façades of the nave: respectively three-, two-, and four-light, inscribed in profiled rectangular framing with slope. Transept gable ends supported by corner buttresses with cut-offs. Northern transept façade: recessed pointed-arched three-light with slope and drip list; oculus at the top. Southern transept façade of white limestone with a brick gable top above the chamfer, with oculus. Projecting round-arched two-light above the chamfer. South and north side choir gables, and five-sided main choir closure supported by buttresses with cut-offs. Recessed pointed-arch windows with slope and continuous drip ledge; two-lights with drip list at side choirs; three-lights at choir closure including blind to the east side. Bevelled mouse tooth. Flat side choir closure with gable ends. North gable end: pointed-arched opening with drip list. South sacristy of three bays and one storey under gabled roof with right roof slope (slate), from the 19th century (?). Anchored brick construction of cellar openings. Arched wall openings; barred windows. Interior. West tower with vaulted access on the ground floor to the central nave. Pointed arch stilts on brick columns with octagonal plinth and -capital, both with rolled rods some of natural stone. Bundle pillars at crossing including two with the year 1522. Restored wooden ceiling: flat and braced with beams at the central nave; slanted at side aisles. Wooden barrel vault braced with beams at the choir aisles. South choir wall: poetic pointed-arch window above which a cartouche with the year 1705 and initials IHS. Furniture: Partially transferred to Our Lady Assumption Church in Wulveringem. Late Renaissance oak main altar from 1609; incorporated painting "The Resurrection" by Jan Janssens, circa 1635; gift from Jacoba de Cortewilde, resident of the Blauwhuis cf. coat of arms. Pulpit (oak) by Jos Roose from Sint-Winoksbergen, from 1753; gift from Cornelis Louwagie cf. cartouche on the sounding board. Neo-Gothic choir stalls and confessional. Organ by Pieter Loncke, from 1867. Dossal in Rococo style from 1775 cf. cartouche. Arduin baptismal font with brass lid, gift from Pieter Meeze from Hondschote and his wife, from 1618 according to the inscription; originating from the former church of 's Heer Willemskapelle.

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