Our Lady of the Little Tree

Koestraat without number. Chapel known as "Our Lady of the Little Tree". According to local tradition, two boatmen found a statue of Mary in a young linden tree along the Yperleet near the Ter Lucht estate. The statue was transferred to the church of St. Andrew. The next day, the statue was back in the tree where it had been found the previous day. The inhabitants of St. Andrew regarded this as a sign that Mary had chosen this place to be honored. 1662: in memory of the devotion that already existed in 1563, lord André de la Coste, then owner of the Ter Lucht castle, had a chapel built and placed a linden tree with the statue of Mary there. Second half of the 18th century: presumably, the current chapel was built. At that time, there was a desire to establish the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Little Tree. 1749: a petition was addressed to Mr. Jan de la Coste to allow the establishment of a brotherhood in his chapel. 1781: the current decoration of the chapel is by Pieter Pepers Jr. (1761-1794). The de la Coste - Stappens family commissioned this. 1840: a restoration of the chapel is commissioned by the then owner Jules d'Hanins. 1895: according to the land register, the chapel undergoes significant changes. The land register mentions "a complete reconstruction." In reviewing the mutation sketches, it only involves an extension to the east and the chapel retains its 18th-century appearance broadly speaking. Chapel on a rectangular floor plan. Red anchored brick building under a slate gable roof between two gable ends with shoulder pieces. Ridge tiles made of glazed earthenware. On the east side, a bell tower with a small bell tower. On the west side, finished with wall friezes and provided with a bell-shaped segment arch opening. The east façade is opened up with segment arch-shaped wall openings with block-shaped relieving arches. Keystones above the door with the coat of arms of the former owner August de Formanoir de la Cazerie-Borluut. Side façades opened up with segment arch windows in plastered and gray-painted frames with ears and footpieces. Interior. A single-nave chapel of two bays separated by a belt arch with cassettes decoration and supported by consoles with cartouches. Cross ribbed vaults supported by consoles with angel heads. Vaults decorated with golden stars. High wooden painted wainscoting, at the top decorated with gold-painted floral motifs. Altar in a round arch niche, flanked by pilasters that carry a profiled round arch with a keystone bearing a painted Marian monogram. According to tradition, the marble altar is attributed to sculptor Pieter Pepers Sr. or his son Pieter Pepers Jr. Altar in brown-gray marble with a white marble medallion of Mary hanging from a bow and garlands. Altar niche with a statue of Mary under a tree. White marble medallions with angel figures hanging from a bow motif.

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