Saint Lawrence
Grote Markt 71 a
9060 Zelzate
Church | 1877 - 1879 | Neogothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 9.00 - 16.00
Tue 9.00 - 16.00
Wed 9.00 - 16.00
Thu 9.00 - 16.00
Fri 9.00 - 16.00
Sat 9.00 - 16.00
Sun 9.00 - 16.00
Religious offices
Description
In 1570 Saint Lawrence was elevated to an independent parish, apart from Assenede. The old St. Lawrence Chapel (1377) became a parish church. In the 19th century, this church was in such a bad state that a renewal was imperative. The new impressive neo-Gothic church designed by the Ghent architect Edmond de Perre-Montigny was inaugurated in 1879.
At the end of the First World War, in the beginning of November 1918, the roof and several stained-glass windows were damaged during the demolition of a bridge. The repairs were made by the Ghent architect A.R. Janssens in 1920. With the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940, the Belgian army dynamited the tower "as a precaution". Unfortunately the debris landed on the roof of the church. The transept and the choir, the original stained-glass windows from 1900, the neo-Gothic paintings from 1900 by artist Remi Goethals and the organ of the Reygaert brothers were destroyed. The damage was repaired only in 1950-1952. The ship, the choir and transept were rebuilt in the original neo-Gothic style. The tower was replaced by a sleek and modern construction of 65 meters.
The interior is impressively clear and evenly painted. The presbytery and the side choirs are separated by beautiful iron gates from 1902 (ornamental metal-worker I. Blanquaert).
The furniture is uniform neo-Gothic and specially manufactured for the new church in the years 1880-1900. The high altar and side altars contain numerous images from the period of and after 1891. The neo-Gothic altarpiece from 1894, coming from the chapel of Sint Jan Berchmans’ College in Antwerp fits wonderfully well in the whole.
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Photos
Remarkable elements
Retable
A retable was usually kept closed and only opened during the liturgy, hence the double sided painted panels. It symbolically preserves Christ’s body, explaining the richly crafted altarpieces. This neo Gothic retable from the former Sint Jan Berchmanscollege chapel (Antwerp), donated in 1894 by Guyot Van Praet, is now in St. Lawrence’s Church. Combining sculpture and painting, it was made by Baeckelmans, Van Wint, De Boeck and Anthony; a brochure explains the panels.
Pietà
The Pieta theme arose from devotion to Mary’s compassion for Christ’s suffering; pietà means “compassion”. From the 13th to 17th century, the image of Mary holding her dead son was a major motif in Christian art. Derived from Descent from the Cross scenes, it evolved into an autonomous, often free standing image. The most famous example is Michelangelo’s Pieta in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Way of the Cross
This masterpiece by Brother Maximinus (1903 1973), inspired by Bach’s Passion, shows Christ in close up before a crowd. Each station is split into two fields by blue colour patches: friends on one side, enemies on the other. Though traditional, the artist integrated modern colour research. The St. Lawrence Way of the Cross entered St. Lawrence Church after Frans Heynze’s 1962 donation.
Pulpit
Valuable 1889 sculpture by Fr. Van den Hende. The base shows the Good Shepherd. The pulpit bears three scenes: St. Laurentius meeting Pope Sixtus, giving alms, and his martyrdom on the grid. The stair figures depict St. Peter and Paul. At the four corners stand the evangelists with their symbols: lion, eagle, man and ox. Below, among leaf décor, six angels carry a banner reading “Be doers of the Word and not only hearers”.
Corpus Christi
The presumably 18th century statue of Christ is still in very good condition, beautifully carved with pleasant proportions and many details in the carving. The statue was restored by studio Vandenborre-Lauwers from Lovendegem. The original but heavily affected polychrome layer of paint and crown of thorns were not restored. The cross probably originates from the old church. Later it hung as a Calvary cross on the east facade of the Kerkstraat.
Stained glass window
The stained glass window from 1963 represents the coronation of Mary. It was designed by M. De Loor from Gentbrugge, teacher at Sint-Lucas and executed by glazier A. Calders from Mortsel.
