A beautiful presbytery, ... far from the church

In the middle of the fields you can see the rectory, but you don't see a church in the immediate vicinity. Strange? Well, on the territory of the former Tielt there were actually two parishes: the well-known pilgrimage site of Our Lady and that of Saint Martin. This last parish, which was served by the Norbertines of Opheylissem, did not have its own rectory for a long time. It was not until the end of the 17th century that the pastor Frederik Adams (1695-1717) built a first, solid rectory with the help of family and friends. Although about 500 meters from the church. By the way, Adams would be the first permanent minister of the parish. During that period, the ministers of both parishes lived at odds. One of the causes was the division of tithe rights.

The building was given its current appearance in 1741 under pastor Essinck, who would be village shepherd for fifty years from 1725 to 1775.

The last occupant of the presbytery was the flamboyant parish priest Van Slagmolen, pastor between 1954 and 1972.

In 1996, the municipality acquired the building and would have it thoroughly restored. For some time, the tourist office and the local history museum were located here. Today, the building houses the offices of the Regional Landscape North Hageland. The redevelopment was paid for with European, Flemish and provincial funds.

Architecturally it is a typical double house in traditional sand and brick style. The view is largely determined by the central staircase, designed as a bell façade, which can be seen – strikingly – both at the front and the rear of the building. Also note the classic design of the door frames followed by an oval skylight, as can be seen in some other houses built in the same period in this region.

The presbytery was, as was customary, surrounded by a spacious parsonage garden.

Jan Rymenams