Saint Martin's Church

The Sint-Martinuskerk is the parish church of the town of Haringe, which belongs to the West Flemish municipality of Poperinge, located on the Haringeplein.

History[edit | edit source text]

The church was originally dependent on the Abbey of St. Augustine in Terwaan. Presumably a Romanesque church building was erected after the fire of 1071. It was a basilical cruciform church. The celebration tower of the current church is a remnant of this building.

There was also a church fire in 1123 and 1297. Around 1304 the church was rebuilt. After the Iconoclasm, the church was again extensively rebuilt, from 1591-1600. This created a brick late Gothic church. The celebration tower was also raised with a bell floor. In 1853 a sacristy was added.

Building[edit | edit source text]

It is a three-aisled hall church with transept. Main choir and side choirs each have a three-sided choir closure. The tower is made of iron sandstone. It has a square floor plan. In front of the choir is a crypt from around 1000.

Interior[edit | edit source text]

The interior dates mainly from the late Baroque.

Two paintings from 1771-1772 were made by Desremaux, namely: Guardian Angel accompanies a child on his way through life and The Ecstasy of Teresa of Avila. From the 17th century is a descent from the cross, after a work by Peter Paul Rubens.

In polychrome wood, a Christ on the cold stone was made in 1669. Further statues include an Augustine of Hippo, Catherine of Siena, Thomas Aquinas, Eligius and Nicholas of Myra (all 18th-century). Also a Peter and a Andrew are from around 1725. From 1749 is a Dominicus Guzman. From around 1700 is a Barbara and a Our Lady of Sorrows is from the 18th century. An Appolonia, a Rochus of Montpellier and an Ambrose of Milan are from around 1700.

The main altar, dedicated to Martinus, is from 1758. The north side altar, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, and the south side altar, dedicated to the Holy Cross, are from around 1700. There are two confessionals from the early 18th century, a communion bench from 1775, choir stalls from 1782, doors (16th and 18th centuries), balustrade of the rood screen (1778) and baptismal font (1778).

The organ is from 1778, performed in Louis XV style by Lambert-Benoît Van Peteghem.

Sources, notes and/or references

SOURCE : Saint Martin's Church (Haringe) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Inventory Immovable Heritage

Joris Broché