A new church and a special architect

The Brussels architect Jules Barbier designed the plans for a new church and estimated the costs at 24,996 Bef. This must have certainly been a tour de force for a sharp calculation, as the expenses could not exceed 25,000 Bef.

Construction began on March 24, 1894, and was completed in 1898. In the following years, the church board could barely meet the costs. It took years for everyone to be paid. Contractor Colsoul complained about this as late as 1914. Whether he ultimately received his money, we do not know. World War I may have determined the course of the financing.

Neo-Gothic and a touch of Art Nouveau

It should not surprise us that the church in Grazen was designed in a style that was preferred for religious buildings during that period: neo-Gothic. If we place another example from the Hageland next to it, namely the chapel of the hospital in Aarschot, the similarities are great. Of course, we find the pointed arch, the archetypal feature of Gothic architecture, here. But especially look at the use of brick alternating with elements in hard stone. These are abundantly used in the entrance and sparingly in accents of window frames, coping stones, and drip stones. The effect is not only calculated for decoration but also has a practical advantage in protecting and supporting sensitive parts. The entrance is – apart from a few cross flowers on the gable tops – the only place where sculpture is used decoratively: loose leaf motifs from the capitals and heads with serious-looking faces.

The color of the red bricks is subtly used to make the windows stand out slightly against the gray wall surfaces.

The whole is particularly elegant. It seems as if Barbier took great care to adapt this graceful modesty to the humility of this agrarian community. Just look at the graceful bell tower, the large sloping roof, the narrow grouped windows…

And yet! A striking detail is seen in the remarkably round window with stained glass in the southern aisle. It resembles a jewel set in the bright brick and the flowing, almost voluptuous form of the ‘sill’. Imagine walking to Christmas here a hundred years ago on a snowy evening under a clear starry sky, and the light in the church glows invitingly...

A new purpose

In 1923, the municipality of Geetbets purchased three properties from the diocese for an amount of 652,000 euros: the church of Grazen, the parish hall, and the rectory of Rummen.

Currently, the church can be rented by people who want to organize small-scale events. These can be both private activities and activities for a broader audience. In this way, the church becomes an extension of the nearby community center, which is currently being renovated and is expected to be ready by the end of this year (2024). For the reservation of a day, you pay 150 euros plus the heating costs.

Architect Jules Barbier, neo-Gothic, and a Brussels fair

What amazes us is the fact that the architect is none other than the well-known Jules Barbier. Jules Barbier was born in 1865 in Hasselt, but his parents were already living in Schaerbeek at that time. The family was certainly not impoverished and had connections in various circles such as public administration, the construction and business world, and the artistic scene. It is perhaps not coincidental that after his studies, he was able to start working as an architect for Jules-Jacques Van Ysendyck. Van Ysendyck was an important, if not the most prominent representative of the Flemish neo-Renaissance style. The town hall in Schaerbeek is a splendid example of this. And although Barbier mastered the palette of various styles perfectly, you will often find elements of this neo-Renaissance historicism in his realizations. Even in his numerous Art Nouveau houses, there is a interplay of brick and natural stone, and he makes use of turretlets and steeply sloping roofs.

Barbier was very active in the restoration of historical buildings. And here we probably have to look for his connection with Grazen. From 1893 to 1910, he worked in Zoutleeuw and restored the town hall, the school, the covered market, and the peace court. It is quite possible that this laid the contacts for the construction of the new church in Grazen.

But what made Barbier most famous among the general public, and which is why he was considered one of our most remarkable architects according to the architectural magazine Vers l'art, was his participation in major exhibitions such as l’Exposition internationale de Bruxelles in 1897 for which he designed the district Vieux Bruxelles. This was not intended as a scientifically justified archaeological reconstruction, but as a picturesque invention based on styles from the past. For l’Exposition universelle de Bruxelles (Solbosch) in 1910, he designed Bruxelles-Kermesse. The creation went up in flames on August 24. Barbier died a month later on September 29. He was just 45 years old.

Barbier, who was a very sensitive man and suffered from what was then called neurasthenia, has left a very large body of work in his short life that is not well-known enough.

Jan Rymenams