Church of Sint-Marten in Sint-Truiden - Discover this open and welcoming religious building

Church | 1570 | Neoromanesque | Catholic Church

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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

Closed the Monday before Ash Wednesday.

Religious offices

Sunday : 10.30 (Oasis-office with welcome and meeting)

Description

The neo-roman church from 1895 was built by architect E. Serrure and stands as a quiet testimonial of a bygone era near one of the city’s busiest approaching roads and shopping streets.

The square tower is the only remainder of the old church; it dates back to ca. 1550. The marlstone tower contains decorative elements that fit well in with the gothic and early renaissance styles. It rests on a limestone plinth. The four saint's figures in front of the tower represent the Holy Eucherius, Holy Lutgardis, Christina the Miraculous and the Holy Trudo. The recent statues (2013) are of the hand of sculpture artist Roger Rosseel from Mechelen.

The sober and fairly dark interior matches the roman style. The wooden ceiling with 17th century coffers is painted with the escutcheons of the most important families from that period in Sint-Truiden. Part of the ceiling originates from the old church called the Holy grave church; this church was raised in the 11th century by the abbey of Sint-Truiden which was disintegrated in 1706.
The rood beam in front of the chancel displays a Calvary (1530-1540). The diverse images of Saint-Marten are from the 1500-1550’s. The church holds a treasure of other artworks ranging from the 15th to the 18th century. Amongst the polychromous wooden sculptures stands a risen Christ, a Christ sitting on the cold stone, an equestrian statue which depicts the Holy Saint Marten, a Pietà, Saint-Rochus, Saint-Eucherius and more than once the city patron: Saint-Trudo. Christ in the grave dates back to the 18th century. The Seat of Wisdom is probably a mimicry after a 13th century original. The furniture is mostly in neo-gothic style.

At the Saint-Martens square stand the former Augustinuschapel (now a clothes shop), a remainder of the in 1910 demolished hospital. The Stapelstraat, the stackingstreet refers to the old Staepelpoort, Stackinggate, named after the Family Van Staepelen.

After the removal of the Friars Minor from the city and the closing of their church, the veneration of St. Anthony also came to St. Martin's Church.

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Remarkable elements

Main altar

Altar in polished Italian alabaster, showing rich colour schemes enhanced by background lighting. In the middle is a gold plated copper tabernacle decorated with enamel, precious stones, semi-precious stones and pearls, topped by a calvary cross. The tabernacle is surrounded by statues of 3 saints. The altar was a gift (1892) by the Spanish countess Maria-Anna de Ipanema Moreira. Since 1910, two big copper candlesticks stand on either side of the tabernacle.

The panel ceiling

The boxed-in paintings on this ceiling mainly show coats of arms of 17th century families from Sint Truiden. These can be seen as an early form of sponsorship as they partly paid for the building and completion of the church. The oldest paintings are the best preserved, thanks to the better quality of paint. On the left side in the chancel, one painting is clearly visible.

Statues of saints

The church contains a nice collection of early renaissance and baroque statues: a replica of St. Anna, the Pieta, the Resurrection, the patron saint St. Martin, St. Rochus and local saints St. Trudo and St. Eucherius. Outside against the wall of the church tower 4 statues of local saints were placed: St. Trudo, Christina the miraculous, St. Lutgardis and St. Eucherius. The wrought-ironwork underneath the statues is by local art-smith Pieter Radoux (1864-1939).

The Holy Sepulchre chapel

As the old font was moved nearer to the altar where mass is held, the former baptism chapel was turned into the Holy Sepulchre chapel. Under the altar is a tomb and a statue of the dead Christ (baroque/classicistic). The tomb is flanked by a Lent crucifix displaying the instruments of Jesus’ torture. Here are also the commemoration crucifixes of the deceased parishioners. Originally, this church was called ‘the church of the Holy Sepulchre’ (11th to beginning 18th century). This chapel recalls and honours this past.

The Stations of the Cross

The side aisles contain the scenes, painted on copper, of the Way of the Cross, set in oak sculpted frames. These scenes were paid for and donated by sponsors mentioned on the frames.

Relic shrine of Brother Mutien-Marie (Louis-Joseph Wiaux, 1841-1947)

In 2014, the old cast iron Easter candelabra by art-smith Pieter Radoux were transformed into a relic shrine by Tim Roosen, contemporary art-smith in Sint-Truiden. We can see the painted portrait of this Belgian saint and a phalanx of his right hand in the gilded lunette. Brother Mutien was canonized in 1989 in Rome. He represents a link with the order of the Brothers Lasallians who, from 1883 until 2003, provided highly respected primary and secondary education in this town.