A first church was built in the middle of the 15th century (1480) by Gilles Ghiselin, who died in 1514. This noble family played an important role in the history of Bousbecque. He was an advisor and chamberlain to the Count of Burgundy, chief bailiff of the City of Ypres. He also had the castle of Bousbecque built. The famous Ogier Gisleen van Busbeke was born in 1521 or 1522 from the extramarital relationship of Georges Ghiselin and Cathérine Hespiel.
From Antiquity to the 19th century, Bousbecque was a prosperous municipality thanks to the production of linen textiles; during the Ancien Régime it was even the most important producer in France. In the church, two pieces of goldsmithing from the 8th century bear witness to the wealth of the municipality: an altar cross inniello silver and a reliquary in gold-red copper set with champlevé enamel from Limoges.
The Saint-Martin church of Bousbecque is a hall church, the three naves of which are the same length.
The five altars of the church were consecrated by the Bishop of Tournai on 25 March 1516. The current building in Flemish Gothic style in bricks and stones was rebuilt in the 19th century, according to the old building, under the direction of the architect Charles Maillard, who added its pointed tower in slate in 1874.
Inside the church, we see the pillars of the original church in Artois sandstone and Tournai stone.
The buttresses separate the naves and support the vaults.
We also see the mausoleum built by Ogier Ghiselin de Bousbecque in memory of his parents. The monumental façade with its sculpted columns has been preserved.
Source: Wikipedia