This church is in fact the last vestige of a grand whole, the remaining capstone of what was once the former abbey, the Saint Catherine Priory. It was not until 1785 that the former abbey church also became the parish church of Houffalize. Until then, Cowan Church served as the town's parish church. The construction of the former abbey church was already started in 1243, in other words shortly after its foundation. Due to delays in construction, the works on the abbey and church were not completed until the early 14th century. The abbey was closed during the French invasion after the revolution of 1789 and like all ecclesiastical property confiscated, the monks were exiled, which immediately heralded its decline and deterioration. As a parish church, so separate from the abbey, as far as worship was concerned, the church was (for the time being) spared from war violence. In January 1945 the building was badly damaged. Exceptional choir lectern, tomb of Thierry II, tombstone of Guerricus.
(Source: Syndicat d'Initiative of Houffalize)