Sint James the Great
Kerkplein
8810 Lichtervelde
Church | 1878-1880 | Neogothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 April - 31 October
Mon 9.00 - 18.00
Tue 9.00 - 18.00
Wed 9.00 - 18.00
Thu 9.00 - 18.00
Fri 9.00 - 18.00
Sat 9.00 - 16.45
Sun 9.00 - 12.00
01 November - 31 March
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 - 16.45
Sun 9.00 - 12.00
Religious offices
Description
This Neo-Gothic church was built in 1876-79, replacing an older church. The oldest record of a church in Lichtervelde dates back to 1197. The only element that remains of centuries of history is the Roman font in Tournai stone (12th century), which is richly decorated with fantastical representations of animals.
The tower and a big part of the nave were bombarded at the German withdrawal in 1918, but were reconstructed in 1922-23. Initially the church was surrounded by buildings, but those were removed in the 20th century. Today we can find little chapels of the procession of Saint Margaret and a memorial column for military and civil victims of both World Wars around the church.
Above the entrance stands Christ as a teacher, surrounded by Saint Margaret and James the Great. This sculpture was made by Karel Lateur, brother to author Stijn Streuvels.
Up until World War I the church was richly painted on the inside. However, the interior was repainted in a much more sober style after the war. We can still find the Twelve Apostles and some saints in the nave and choir.
The monumental, neo-baroque pulpit was made by sculptor J.B. Van Biesbrouck of Ghent and marble worker Sarot (Tielt).
Sources :
Inventaris voor het onroerend erfgoed: https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be
www.heiligen.net
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
Photos
Media
Remarkable elements
Pulpit
The monumental neo-baroque pulpit from 1863 was made by sculptor J.B. Van Biesbrouck from Ghent and the Tielt marble-worker Sarot. At the bottom, one can see a sculpture of a sitting James with a book in his hand. The top is adorned with a monumental sculpture of Saint Margaret. On the side panels of the pulpits one can find an extra 3 images of her life. On the four lower corners, there are the symbolic heads of the four evangelists each with a shield above them with a quote from the relevant gospel.
Stained-glass window of Saint Margaret (1959, Rogier Vandeweghe)
In the left transept, one can find a large stained-glass window of Saint Margaret. The graceful and rising figure of the young Saint, in the warm colours of red and blue, immediately attracts one’s attention. She dispels and overcomes the dragon, symbol of evil and sin. To the top left, there is a white dove (Holy Spirit) as a symbol of her virgin purity. One can also see the shield of Knokke, Geluwveld, Booitshoeke and Nieuwenhove (Waregem), four places in West Flanders where Saint Margaret is still celebrated. At the top of the stained-glass window, there are the shields of Flanders, Bruges and Lichtervelde. At the bottom stands countess Margaret with her body guard and retinue. She hands over a relic, the left hand of Saint Margaret, to the Bruges Friar Minors.
Stained-glass window of St James
In the right transept, one can find a large stained-glass window of St James. It calls for the honouring of Saint James and depicts the pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint James in Santiago. Saint James is depicted with primarily the colours of light purple and blue as a pilgrim with the specific distinguishing marks. To the right on the window, one can see the three Saint James shells, the distinguishing marks of the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela. At the top, one can find the shields of Lichtervelde, Jerusalem and Rome. The pilgrimage from our regions towards the tomb of apostle James began in Bruges at the Saint-James church and runs all the way through cities and villages where there are churches dedicated to Saint James. This road is marked on the stained-glass window with yellow tape with the most important cities and stops mentioned on it.
Font
The baptismal font belongs together with that of Dendermonde, Zedelgem and Zillebeke to the four oldest fonts of Belgium dating from the 11th and 12th century. The font was made in Roman style out of massive Tournai blue stone: 80x80 cm and 23 cm thick. The tub rests on a firm cylindrical pillar, surrounded by four round small columns. At the top, there are broad palms with a Greek cross. On the side walls, one can see dragon motives: on three sides the dragon heads point towards each other, on the fourth side the heads point away from each other. In 1918, the font was buried under the debris of the dynamited tower. After a restoration in Bruges she was again placed behind the church in a niche. Nowadays, she stands in the baptistery, at the side altar dedicated to Mary.
The pipe organ
The pipe organ from 1926 of Jules Anneessens-Tanghe from Menen. The pipes that we can see from inside the church are decorative pipes. The real sound pipes are made of lead and are located behind the decorative pipes.
