Sint-Jacob de Meerkerk - Hoeke

In the course of the 13th century, the parish of Hoeke split from that of Oostkerke. There was already a chapel in 1260 . In 1275, Henry of Koesfeld, a German merchant, donated a sum to build a church.

In 1580 the church suffered from the religious disputes, during which the bells in Sluis were melted down into cannons. From 1591 onwards, Masses were celebrated in the church again. Much repair work took place, especially in the 17th century, and a sacristy was added in 1649. In 1938 the church was classified as a monument.

In 1944, the tower in particular suffered war damage and the church was restored in 1948.

It is a brick church with a single-aisle nave and a slightly higher choir section that is closed on three sides. The church has a pre-built, square tower in early Gothic style. The clock floor, destroyed in 1944, was rebuilt in 1948. The choir was rebuilt around 1640 on the existing plan.

The church is covered by a wooden barrel vault (17th century). The floor was re-laid in 1855 and contains several gravestones, the oldest of which dates from 1550 and the youngest from 1777. The church also contains the gravestone of Jacob Beels and his wife Magdaleena de Wielmaker. In the 16th century, Beels was an alderman, mayor (21 times) and treasurer of the city. He died in 1558.

The rood loft dates from 1832 and on it there is an organ from 1858 , made by Pieter Loncke.

The main altar is 18th century and contains a painting by Jan Ryckx (1635), depicting the Holy Family. The communion rail is from 1744-1746 in Louis XIV style. The pulpit is from the first half of the 18th century. The church has a Job Triptych by Hieronymus Bosch (1505), which has been on loan to the Bruges Groeninge Museum since 1931. There are also two 16th-century paintings, possibly from the school of Hugo van der Goes, depicting the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Circumcision, remains of a former triptych. There is another painting from the 18th century, depicting Our Lady Mother of Sorrows.

Willem Vandenameele