Church of Our Lady of Consolation Hotton

Hotton's first church was built in 1837-1840 . In September 1944, the Germans, along with the neighbors, set fire to the church in revenge for the pastor's (Edmond Marquet) sympathy for the resistance.

The bells were removed from the church in August 1944 and moved to Germany. They were found intact and placed in the new church.

Built after WWII, this modern church is made of square limestone rubble. It is connected to the presbytery by a covered corridor.

In 1976 the "Westenfelder" organ with 19 registers was installed ( DtBOB: Inspelingen ).

The terracotta Way of the Cross inside and the Calvary on the bridge are the work of local artists. In front of the church, the common monument commemorating the fallen of the two wars challenges with its unconventional aspect.

The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Troost. Our Lady of Consolation or Comforter of Sorrows is a title of Mary. After all, Mary is the person par excellence that people turn to for consolation . For no other saint are so many pilgrimages or processions organized. No other saint has been portrayed so often. Because Mary is of course not just anyone: She is the Mother of God and is therefore revered by many. That is why it is a place of refuge, especially in difficult times. Because she was so intensely good, she acts as a mother figure, and in times of need many people call on her mother.

Local legend has it that in September 1944, during the liberation of Hotton, the priest celebrated the American victory by raising his wineglass , which was shattered by a shot from a standing German soldier on the side of the bridge

Willem Vandenameele