Description
Church surrounded by oval churchyard with brick wall and sandstone coping blocks. Access via western iron gate on brick pillars with bluestone ball crowning (1864) and a staircase to the southeast. Situated on a small square with lime trees.
History
In 1040, Reinelmus and Ida donated half of the church to the Sint-Pietersabdij in Ghent. Originally a Romanesque church (13th century), around 1500 provided with a Gothic choir and buttresses. Tower replaced in 1648. Thorough renovation in 1767 (see stone in southern aisle). Restorations in 1864-65 by architect E. Van Hoecke-Peeters and in 1919.
Architecture
Oriented three-aisled church with western tower, transept and choir with three-sided closure. The square tower (16th century) on a 13th century base of Tournai stone has an octagonal brick superstructure (1648) with sandstone sound holes. Gilded ball and cockerel crown the tower. Former baptismal chapel (southern) with iron sandstone, Tournai limestone and Balegem sandstone (possibly 12th century).
The nave has brick facades on a high sandstone plinth and 18th century segmental arch windows. North facade with bacon layers and traces of an older church (16th century). South aisle from 1767. Northern transept with Balegem sandstone, partly 13th-14th century. Gothic choir (15th century) of brick and sandstone, partly rebuilt after religious troubles in the 17th century. Canopied Calvary in the east wall, of which only the cross was preserved after thefts in 1975 and 1984.
Interior
Repainted in 1963. Round arches on columns with Tuscan capitals. Rococo vaults with cartouches and 18th-century porch. Oak sacristy door with iron fittings.
Furniture: 17th-century paintings, including works attributed to M. De Vos. Statues of Saint Dionysius, Sacred Heart of Mary (1872), Saint Joseph (1874) and Saint Anthony (1895). Main altar (1777) and side altars (1771) in marble and stucco. 18th-century oak panelling, communion rail and pulpit. Confessionals, organ (1836, Van Petegem, adapted by Loncke in 1963). Baptismal font of bluestone (18th-19th century), neo-Gothic Stations of the Cross (1939).
Stained glass windows (1897-1903) with representations of saints. Tombstones (17th-19th century) incorporated in floor, walls and churchyard.