St. Amandus Church

The earliest history of the Sint-Amandus church in the Smid Lambrechtstraat would go back to the 12th^century. The place of worship was originally owned by Honnecourt Abbey, but it was not until 1709 that Outer had its own parish priest. Of the Gothic church, only the substructure of the square west tower was preserved. According to the dean's visitation records, the church was in a neglected state around the middle of^the 17th century. As late as 1698, the choir was covered with straw. In 1725 the church was thoroughly restored and provided with a vault. In 1752 the roof and walls of the tower were refurbished, as evidenced by the wall anchors '1752' just below the gallows holes. Three years later, the church was paved with blue stone and white marble. In 1830 expansion works were realized according to plans by the Ninoofse architect Van Impe and in 1846 a new choir was built. In the early 1970s, the church was thoroughly restored. The Sint-Amandus church consists of a three-aisled nave under one roof, with built-in west tower, a three-sided closed choir and a north and south sacristy. In the interior are worth noting: the ^16th-century baptismal font, two portico altars in marbled wood from the 17th century, the 18th-century^beautifully sculpted paneling, the church master's bench, the choir stalls and the pulpit.

Above the high altar hangs a rather curious painting: "the disciples of Emmaus". Nice detail: pastor Victor Haelterman, brother of Miss Maria Haelterman, donor of the canvas, is depicted on it. The work is by Jules van Wanzeele (°1881 - †1962), a resident Ninovieter who made many scenes for churches and chapels in the Ninoofse area. This is how the murals in the now demolished Ninoofse Theresiakerk, the "Trezekenskerk" came from him.

On May 22, 2019, history was made in the church of Outer. On the name day of Saint Rita, no less than 233 Ritas from all over Belgium came together, a real world record. The initiative "Collecting Rita's" came from pastor Alexander Vandaele. A bailiff registered the identity cards so that everything was official to have this record included in the "Guiness World Book of Records"

The location of the world record attempt was not chosen haphazardly: in the church of Outer is the statue of Saint Rita that was transferred from the deconsecrated Trezekens church or the "new church" in Ninove. The Italian Margarita Lottius (°1381 - †1457) who was canonized in 1900 is best known as a Saint who is worshipped in "hopeless cases"

Above the high altar hangs a rather curious painting: "the disciples of Emmaus" (photo painting). Nice detail: pastor Victor Haelterman, brother of Miss Maria Haelterman, donor of the canvas, is depicted on it. The work is by Jules van Wanzeele (°1881 - †1962), a resident Ninovieter who made many scenes for churches and chapels in the Ninoofse area. This is how the murals in the now demolished Ninoofse Theresiakerk, the "Trezekenskerk" came from him.

Toerisme Ninove