Our Lady Help of Christians Church

Initial help church and later parish church of Hamme - Zogge. Oriented church situated with its façade aligned to the section of the street between Heirweg and the church, with a surrounding cemetery from 1855 to 1911. Now the church is located behind a paved forecourt and separated from a game court laid out on the former cemetery by a low hedge on the south side. The residents of the remote neighborhoods Zogge, Ekelbeke, and Meerstraat decided in 1848 to build a neighborhood church themselves, funded by donations. The laying of the foundation stone took place on January 26, 1849, and on September 23, 1849, the first mass could be celebrated in the unfinished church. Only by Royal Decree of May 24, 1854 was it recognized as a help church, appointing the initial provost K. D'Hauwer as pastor. Under his guidance, the church was further completed and adorned. In 1862, a sacristy was added with financial help from the municipal council. Due to structural problems, the necessity arose to build a new façade and new tower. In 1865, the municipal council approved the proposal to fund the construction of an additional bay, formed by a new church tower with side places. This was executed in 1868 according to a design by master builder Casimir Van Brussel (Laarne). The materials specified were Boomse bricks and limestone from Ecausinnes and Savonnière in the specifications of 1866; however, it seems that only bricks were used. Potter and Broeckaert (1889) mention the decorative polychromy, citing the many inscriptions inside the church. The current interior painting, among other things with altered inscriptions from 1951-52, was done by R. Baert-Raemdonck (Grembergen) under the direction of Oscar Van Mieghem (Sint-Niklaas). Restoration works took place from 1980-1986 by architect Fernand Weyers (Sint-Niklaas) along with the replacement of the wooden bell tower.

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