St. Lucia's Church, a work of the village community.

For several decades after the discovery that the previous church from 1835 had physical problems, people would think and doubt whether to 'repair' the church or to build a new church. For example, in the 1920s, with the help of the parishioners, a piece of land was bought that was connected to the 'new' cemetery. This cemetery was already laid out before 1928 in what is now called the Kerkstraat.

But not much came of building and the Sisters of Annonciaden, who had had a free girls' school in Begijnendijk since 1900, were also interested in that piece of land. After all, the number of pupils increased to such an extent that expansion of the existing school buildings was necessary. In 1928 they contacted the diocese about this, but it was not until ten years later, in 1938, that permission would be given for an extension of the school.

Meanwhile, the 'overcrowding' in the old church was enormous. Where there were only 260 seats, four to five hundred worshippers showed up. Attempts were made in all kinds of ways to make the best possible use of the space: the distinction between a men's and a woman's side was abolished, the notables who had their own chair, but who arrived late in the church, had to give up the chair, boys took a seat on the rood screen and girls at the bottom – albeit armed with mirrors to keep an eye on the menfolk. The number of masses in a day increased, even to five a day.

An energetic village shepherd

In any case, the parishioners would have to wait to realize the plans for a new church until the headstrong priest Verrydt became pastor in 1949. Driven and a team player, but also a 'salesman' and 'boss' and with modern views, he will give shape to the idea for a new church. The design was drawn by architect Jos Gabriëls (Brasschaat, 1920 – Antwerp, 1979), an acquaintance of pastor Verrydt from the period when he was a curate in Brasschaat. There was no participation of the parishioners; There was, however, limited communication through the parish magazine. Gabriëls drew several plans, but either fundamental changes were demanded by the Royal Commission for Monuments and Sites, or the parish priest himself still had serious remarks. In the spring of 1953, all parties agreed.

An expensive affair

The ground of the old church was too small for the new plans and on top of that, the services had to continue somewhere during construction. With donations and the necessary lobbying by the parish priest - including the National Society of Small Land Property - the current land was bought for an amount of 77,825 francs. The firm of Widow Keustermans and sons from Arendonk offered the best price for the construction of the building and for 5,468,439 francs the work could start.

Almost one million more would be added before the construction – without interior fittings – was completed. The State intervened for 30%. Interestingly, St. Lucia's Church became one of the pilot projects of Domus Dei, a fund that collected seat money in the parishes for the construction of churches. In addition, the parishioners undertook all kinds of initiatives such as the classic Flemish fairs in order to be able to raise the necessary amount.

The foundation stone was laid on 15 November 1953 by Vicar General Schoenmaeckers. The church was built almost in a medieval artisanal way. There were no cranes and construction machines as there are now: everything had to be done almost by hand. A team of eighteen workmen was constantly at work. At that time, a bricklayer earned 12.5 francs per hour. There was only one concrete mixer and a small crane. The stones had to be carried up on the shoulders. In 1955 the new building was ready for use. Only then was the old church demolished amid general interest. The old cemetery had already been 'uncharled' around 1952.

Jan Rymenams