Saint Ursula
Kerkplein
3620 Lanaken
Church | 1860-1864 | Neogothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 10.00 - 17.00
Tue 10.00 - 17.00
Wed 10.00 - 17.00
Thu 10.00 - 17.00
Fri 10.00 - 17.00
Sat 10.00 - 17.00
Sun 10.00 - 17.00
Religious offices
Sonntag 11 am
Description
This Neo-Gothic church was erected in 1860-1864. In gratitude for the priest Father Smeyers, who was the master builder, a bas-relief adorns the entry portal. This bas-relief represents Father Smeyers receiving the building plans from the hands of Saint Ursula.
Let us point out that Leopold I, who came to visit after the completion of the construction of the church, ordered the production of a stained glass window. In 2005, all the stained glass windows were restored.
In the interior of the church, a special Way of the Cross attracts the attention through the representation of a number of village inhabitants. Certain nobles of the region received a tombstone in the wall or in a chapel.
In the alcoves of the choir are frescoes representing saints among them four prophets, four church fathers and the four evangelists. The interior finishing and the furniture form a beautiful Neo-Gothic ensemble thanks to the plans of Cornelis Janssen of Sint-Truiden. Here we must cite the high altar with Christ the King and the apostles, four side altars, the cathedra and two confessionals. It must be specified that the church houses some treasures that date from before the 19th century, such as among others baptismal fonts from the 14th century.
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
See the treasures of this church online on erfgoedplus.be
Photos
Remarkable elements
High altar
A new high altar, lectern and chair were installed in 2011. The 12 columns that carry the altar top represent the twelve Apostles.
Reliquary
On November 27, 1642 the lord of Pietersheim was given some relics of Saint Ursula from the relics collection of the Saint Ursula chapel of Cologne. Since the late nineteenth century they have been exhibited in a brass, neo-Gothic reliquary.
Way of the Cross
The Way of the Cross, painted by the local artist Jan Willem Rosier, was solemnly inaugurated in 1808. Among the many characters his wife and both daughters can be discovered as the weeping women. Peeters, the son-in-law of the architect Jaminé, placed the canvases in beautiful neo-Gothic paneling that also integrates two confessionals.
Stained glass windows
Three stained glass windows can be found in the apse. They were created in the Carpronnier workshop in Brussels. One of them was donated by King Leopold I to commemorate his visit to the church in 1864. The stained glass window in the south transept represents the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and was a gift (1875) from Charles Loomans, Rector of the University of Liege. It comes from the oldest workshop owned by Nicolas of Roermond. A grissaille stained glass window enriches the north transept. The majority of the stained glass windows in the aisles,in the rood loft and in the choir came from the Janssen-Stalins workshop in Antwerp.
Tombstone
The tombstone of Hendrik de Merode and his wife Francisca can be found in the north transept. The couple is portrayed lying down with their pedigree (family crests). On the left, on the border of the choir and transept a Roman baptismal font can be found.
