St. Peter's Church Bruges

At the intersection of two dikes : the circa 1200 constructed dike so-called " Dulleweg " and the previously constructed " Blankenbergse Dijk " a village center had emerged. Around 1210, the parish of St. Peter's on the Dijk was founded and St. Peter's Church was built, dedicated to St. Peter.

An old image of the Zwin region (1501, anonymous) shows a three-aisled church with a transept and crossing tower. The church fell into disrepair at the end of the 16th century, possibly during the religious troubles in 1578-1584. A report from 1652 shows that the church has still not been rebuilt, only the oriented choir has been restored, and only the walls of the nave remain standing.

It was not until 1786 that the church was completely renovated in a late classical style, probably based on a design by the Bruges architect CJ Bouaert. The orientation of the church is changed, now the choir is located in the west and the entrance, on the Blankenbergse Steenweg, in the east. The one-aisled church has two small cross-aisles and a slightly projecting tower at the front. The sacristy is on the south side.

The growing population made an expansion of the church necessary in 1845 . In 1863 the bell tower was raised. In 1871, a baptistery was built on the south side of the church, designed by architect Pierre Buyck. In 1926, a new statue of Saint Peter was placed above the entrance.

The old brickwork of the original building from 1786 is still visible in the facade and tower.

The church has a sober interior in late classical style: Paintings from the 17th century depicting: "The handing over of the keys to Peter", "The Descent from the Cross", "The Calvary". Paintings by H. Dobbelaere (Bruges) from 1855 depicting: "Our Lady into the Assumption", "Holy Peter", "Holy Paul". Main altar with white marble tabernacle from 1892-1893 in neoclassical style designed by L. Pick (Bruges) flanked by two plaster angel statues from 1854. Polychromed Stations of the Cross from 1852 in baked earth. Statues of saints on the columns from 1873. In the baptistery: murals and marble baptismal font from 1879, neo-Gothic, oak communion rail from 1897-1898 designed by C. Van Robays originally stood in the church. Organ built by AJ Berger in 1770, said to come from the former abbey of Sint-Andries, probably installed in 1786, wooden furniture from 1797.

The cemetery is bordered with a double row of linden trees. The cemetery contains a number of important grave monuments of noble families and bourgeoisie who were based at Sint-Pieters. Some 18th-century and early 19th-century grave slabs have been cemented into the church walls, including gravestones in late classical and neo-Gothic style.

Willem Vandenameele