Saint Amandus
Smid Lambrechtstraat 33
9406 Outer-Herlinckhove (Ninove)
Church | XV | Gothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 9.00 - 17.00
Tue 9.00 - 17.00
Wed 9.00 - 17.00
Thu 9.00 - 17.00
Fri 9.00 - 17.00
Sat 9.00 - 17.00
Sun 9.00 - 17.00
Religious offices
Wednesday 7 pm
Description
Of the Gothic church, only the substructure of the west square tower has been preserved. The church was in a neglected state, according to the formal visiting reports around the middle of the 17th century. The choir was still covered with straw in 1698. In 1725 the church was thoroughly restored and equipped with a vault. In 1752 the roof and the walls of the tower were renovated: the wall anchors - 1752 - just below the reverberation holes testify to this. Three years later, the church was paved with natural blue stone and white marble.
In 1830, the place of worship was enlarged according to the plans of the architect J.B. Van Impe and a new choir was built in 1846. The church was also completely restored in 1972-1974.
The Sint-Amanduskerk consists of a three naves ship under one roof, with an integrated western tower, a three-sided enclosed choir and a north and south sacristy. In terms of interior, the 16th-century baptismal font, two 17th-century marbled porch altars, and the 18th-century beautifully sculpted paneling, steward's bench, choir stalls and pulpit. The organ dates from 1931 and was built by the Reygaert brothers from Geraardsbergen.
Ten stained glass windows were restored in 2002 under the leadership of Aletta Rambaut, art historian. The current restoration of the interior and exterior started in March 2017 under the supervision of architects Van Severen and was completed in 2019.
The parish church of Outer was protected as a monument on August 1, 1986.
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
Photos
Remarkable elements
On the road to Emmaus
Painting above the former altar by Jules Van Wanzeele (1927). Recently renovated alongside the church building (2018).
Baptismal fonts
The 16th-century baptismal font in bluestone has eight sides. These eight sides have a symbolic value and point to the new creation and the eighth day after Jesus' birth, the day of the circumcision. This baptismal font, one can find in a sort of baptismal chapel at the back of the aisle, like it was accustomed in a roman-catholic church at the time. The chapel is situated in a corner of the church building and therefore surrounded partially by a wooden lattice fence with access gate, and the 18th century rococo paneling that this parish church is rich in. On the back at the top, in a built-in closet one can also find a portrait medallion by John the Baptist surrounded by ornaments in wood carving.
Pulpit
At the front of one of the supporting pillars of the church, hangs a baroque pulpit from the 18th century. This pulpit hasn't got a support point on the floor. The pulpit is decorated with medallions and bas-reliefs as it was common at the time. There above, the so-called sounding board which at the time served as a sound system, and attached to this the classic white dove which represents the Holy Spirit. A wooden spiral staircase leads to the pulpit.
Side altars
To both the left and the right of the aisles, one can find side altars in marblewood from the 18th century. To your left, in honor of Our Lady, and to your right in honor of Saint Amand, patron Saint of the parish.
Statue of Father Damian
In the middle of the parish church, the Holy Father Damian and the Holy Saint Rita of Cascia, who at the initiative of our current pastor ZEH Alexander Vandaele were imported from the now gone Teresa-church of Meerbeke. Every third Wednesday of the month, there's a celebration with blessing in honour of the Holy Saint Rita.
The statue of Father Damian was designed in ceramics and created by the artist Achiel Pauwels in 2010. Yearly, there's a Holy Father Damian celebration ánd blessing with a relic of Father Damian donated by the congregation oft he Holy Hearts to our parish. The ceramic statue depicts the life and works of Father Damian in Molokai. Father Damian - being a Saint - received a special place in the church at the initiative of our former pastor, ZEH Peter Kiekens.
Organ
The organ is a classic pipe organ dating back to 1905. It was built by the brothers Reygaert (students of Anneessens) from Geraardsbergen with "the most up-to-date improvements of tubular pneumatic action", so stating the announcement from the inauguration at the time. These organ builders had besides having a factory in Geraardsbergen, also a factory in Auxerre, France. Sometimes the church organizes concerts because of the great acoustics that the church has to offer !
