Church of Sint-Medardus in Wervik - Discover this open and welcoming religious building

Church | XIII | Gothic | Catholic Church

Disabled access Parking space

Map

Opening hours

01 January - 30 June
Mon 7.30 - 12.00
Tue 7.30 - 12.00
Wed 7.30 - 12.00
Thu 7.30 - 12.00
Fri 7.30 - 12.00
Sat 7.30 - 12.00
Sun 7.30 - 12.00

01 July - 31 August
Mon 7.30 - 12.00
Tue 7.30 - 12.00
Wed 7.30 - 12.00
Thu 7.30 - 12.00
Fri 7.30 - 12.00
Sat 7.30 - 12.00
Sun 8.30 - 12.30 • 13.30 - 17.30

01 September - 31 December
Mon 7.30 - 12.00
Tue 7.30 - 12.00
Wed 7.30 - 12.00
Thu 7.30 - 12.00
Fri 7.30 - 12.00
Sat 7.30 - 12.00
Sun 7.30 - 12.00

Guided tour

+32 56 95 24 25

Religious offices

Kerknet

Description

The present church dates from the 14th century and was finally finished in 1440. It replaced a Romanesque church which became too small during the economic boom under the reign of the Dukes of Burgundy. The new church was double the size of the old one and was one of the biggest of West Flanders: 81 meters long, 37 meters wide and the tower measures 86 meters in height.

The crypt from around 1214 remained intact and was temporarily used as a prison. Old legends speak of wailing and rattling of chains coming from the crypt, thus starting tales of the place being haunted. According to local tales the crypt leads to secret underground tunnels.

The church was ransacked several times in its history, such as during the iconoclasm (1566), the French occupation (18th century) and during World War I. During this last war the church was in German occupied territory and was used as horse stables and observation post. We can still see inscriptions by German soldiers above the north portico. A few stained glass windows remind us of Belgian victims of the war. Consequently, the church was regularly rebuilt and renovated.

In spite of the destructions, the church still retains its rich interior including 15th century statues, an oak pulpit (end 17th century) sculpted by Arion, an artist from Lille, and a confessional dating from 1724. The church also possesses the 15th century tomb of Ervé de Meriadech and Heanne de Croix, 18th century statues and paintings, including works by Jacob van Oost and Jan van Orley.
Restoration of the interior was finalized in 2012 and we can now admire the church in all its splendour.

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Remarkable elements

Baroque pulpit

The baroque, eye-catching pulpit (1693, Michel Hinniart from Lille) displays symbolic scenes and subjects from the sermons. The pulpit body is supported by female sculptures symbolizing the divine virtues: faith (with cross) hope (with anchor) and love (with heart). The body itself shows Christ and the four evangelists John (eagle), Luke (winged ox), Marc (winged lion) and Matthew (winged human). The overhead board is carried by 2 angels and at the top is God the Father flanked by 2 angels with trumpets. At the bottom of the steps is Moses with 2 stone stones symbolizing law and Elijah with flaming sword as symbol of the prophets.

Epitaph

In four places the walls show 15th century epitaphs or tombstones where a rich person is buried. Originally polychromed and beautifully sculpted, these reliefs were probably damaged by iconoclasts in August 1566. The scenes resemble the style of the Flemish Primitives. One of the epitaphs depicts the Holy Mary and Child with the deceased donors and their children kneeling in adoration and the patron saint of the donors standing behind them.

Gherbode chapel

The chapel on the left is dedicated to John the Baptist. The stained glass window and the altar were gifts by Jean Verhaeghe (+1868, mayor of Wervik). The chapel is named after the biggest tombstone here, belonging to Diederik Gherbode (1421, councillor of the Duke of Burgundy, keeper of the seals). His coat-of-arms is still visible on the outside wall of the spiral staircase in the smallest room of the church. The cupboard of the guilds (16th century) was also used to store candles. The corbels here and near the little room are also noteworthy.

French gate and baroque confessional

The parishioners from Overleie (South Wervik) entered the church via the south portal, a habit which continued during the occupation of Wervik by France after the Peace Pact of Utrecht in 1713. Thus the name French gate. Next to this portal is a baroque confessional (1724). Sculptor Bartholomy Arion from Lille used it to depict symbols of the confession and penance. The top scene symbolizes the Church with tiara and papal cross. The large sculptures show 4 penitents: John the Baptist (with a lamb) Peter (with a rooster), Augustine (with a heart) and id (with harp and crown).

Stained glass windows (Judgment Day)

Above the west portal the stained glass window depicts the Last Judgment, a scene which is usually shown on the outside walls of churches. The West, where the sun sets, symbolizes death. The window near the front shows the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan and the window near the back door depicts the Creation. The painting “Saint Anthony of Padua with the child Jesus in the back of the church is the most remarkable here and is contributed to Denijs Calvaert (Antwerp 1540-Bologna 1619).

Sculpture “The slave” on offertory box

This picture (16th or 17th century) is one of the most remarkable in this church. The Order of Trinitarians (established during the Crusades) used the money to free Christian slaves from the Saracens. The sculpture is attributed to Servaas Cardon from Antwerp (1607-after 1643) It formed a part of several art exhibitions such as “Gold brocade and Glacis, S.O.S. Polychromes” at the Bijloke museum, Gent (1996). This exhibition took place at the end of the restoration campaign of polychrome structures financed by the Foundation King Bauduin.