Our Lady of the Visitation

Statue of Our Lady of Lissewege

The legend of the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Lissewege tells of fishermen from Koudekerke (former Heist) who, in difficult times, cast their fish pots in local wells and creeks. One day they pulled up a statue of the Virgin Mary and took it home, but the next day it was found standing by a well. According to the legend, the church was built over this well, whose lid is still visible in the central aisle. The original statue was lost in a fire in 1586 and replaced in 1624.

Grave stones

In the church, one can find a few remarkable bricked in grave stones that mention texts on the topic of vulnerability and the transience of earthly life - one of them mentioning the following sentence: Menschel vorme spyse voor de worme van cleid weirde wilt myne gedyncke die ligge en styncke int slyck der eirde. In vrede moet zy rusten. Amen. Vreugt ot Noot T’Einde de Dood.

Van Peteghem organ

Wairam Romboudt, a local master-carpenter, created in the year of 1652 the root screen, and the organ closet. The organ mechanics are from 1808 and were made by Karel Van Peteghem. In 1994, the organ was thoroughly restored i.a. thanks to a donation by Mr William Vanden heuvel, an American lawyer and diplomat with roots in Lissewege.

In the side nave, under the organ closet, a sign reminds us of his donation.

Churches' choir

In the Churches’ choir, one can find choir fire windows of Crespin-Crickx with patterns called Our-Lady, Saint James the Great, and Saint Eligius with the weapon shield of respectively Flanders, Lissewege, and Ter Doest. Furthermore, one can find in this church a collection of several worthwhile paintings by Jacob van Oost the Elder (The Visitation by Our Lady), Jan Maes (Saint James of Compostela) and Marc van Duvenende (Christ on the Cross).

Pulpit

The pulpit was made by Walram Romboudt, a local master carpenter (ca. 1598-1668).

Tower

The 49.5-metre-high tower is well worth visiting. A stone spiral staircase followed by a short wooden stair leads to the tower platform, offering wide views of the surrounding area. Visitors first pass through the bell chamber with four large sound openings. Six bells hang from sturdy oak frames: three steel and three bronze, the latter replacing bells removed during the German occupation of 1940–1944. A small carillon is also present.

Download the plan of the remarkable elements