Old Church and the Anna Chapel.
The first church of Spaubeek, dedicated to St. Laurentius, is already mentioned in 1148.
Strangely enough, it was located far outside the village center, along an old Roman highway that crossed the Geleenbeek.
Over the centuries, this church was renovated several times.
The church had an area of 7.5x22.5 meters.
The church was demolished in 1837 and a new parish church was built in the center of the village, which in turn was replaced by the current church building.
There was a cemetery around the first church.
A chapel was built here in 1865, dedicated to Mother Anna, the mother of Mary.
This Anna Chapel was also popularly called the Old Church.
The lintel of the chapel contains the following text:
1865
STO IN COEMETER II LOCO UBI ESQUE 1837 ECCLESIA PAROCHIALES SETIT
This means: "1865 I am standing in the cemetery where the parish church stood until 1837"
O.a. The building was maintained with the support of the Adriaens family, who lived opposite the chapel.
However, the chapel increasingly fell into disrepair and was ready for demolition in the 1970s.
Fortunately, a committee provided sufficient finances so that the beautifully restored chapel can be admired again since 1989, thanks to the generosity of the parishioners.
See the chronogram next to the entrance, which means:
"After regaining my former glory through the generosity of the parishioners, I stand up better."
The Anna Chapel, a religious jewel of simplicity, is still used for praying the rosary.