Eglise Saint-Clémént de Gendron

The current church was built in 1861 on the site of an old chapel.

The interior was restored in 1955 with money largely raised in the parish. Before the 1940 war there were 2 bells weighing 445 kg and 220 kg. The large bell was confiscated by the Germans during the occupation (to be remelted, which was the fate often reserved for bells during the Second World War) and replaced in 1950 by public tender.

The church is dedicated to Saint Clement . Clement was the fourth bishop of Rome after Peter, Linus and Cletus. Not much is known about him.

A legend tells that he was exiled to an area around the Black Sea, probably Crimea, during Christian persecution. There he had to work in the mines together with other exiles. There too he managed to bring many to Christ. Once, when a large number of prisoners were in danger of dying from thirst and exhaustion , Clement prayed to the Lord for help. He was then shown a lamb in a vision , which showed him where he could tap a new well .
Ultimately, Clement is said to have been martyred because the Romans drowned him in the Black Sea . To prevent his body from washing up on the beach and the Christians from giving him a respectful burial, they tied an anchor around his neck. But the sea miraculously partially dried up ; This way, the Christians could simply cross the seabed to reach the place where angels had built a chapel in the meantime. There they found the body of the holy bishop.

Willem Vandenameele