Saint Martin
Waversesteenweg 1
3090 Overijse
Church | XII - XVIII | Gothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon -
Tue -
Wed -
Thu 10.00 - 17.00
Fri -
Sat 10.00 - 17.00
Sun 10.00 - 17.00
Guided tour
Religious offices
Description
The protected late Gothic church can be found in the centre of Overijse. It is close to an infamous S-curve in the old road between Brussels and Namur. The heart of the church, including a visitor centre on grape cultivation, is protected heritage. Saint Martin is the archetypical patron saint of churches founded around 800.
This cross-shaped church was constructed out of sandstone. The tower has a Romanesque core from the twelfth century. The choir was built after a fire in 1489. The other parts of the church were struck by a second fire and have been restored during the seventeenth century. The first fire killed 300 persons. The second fire burned a big part of the village to ashes.
A tombstone in the choir gives access to the family crypt of Horne. The family tree and the family ties to the Belgian royalty are explained in the sacristy. Elsewhere in the church you can find the tombstone of Maria Lips, sister of Justus Lipsius. He was a famous humanist and professor in Leuven (born in Overijse in 1547).
In the interior you can also find a stone baptismal font from the sixteenth century with the weapon of the lords of Wittem, two holy water fonts in bluestone, two baroque side altars in marbled wood and six confessionals. The sandstone altar and the oak choir are both neo-Gothic.
The paintings in the transepts date back to the eighteenth and nineteenth century. They depict several subjects: the Supper at Emmaus, the Elevation of the Cross, Saint Helena recognising the true Cross and Our Lady giving the Rosary to Saint Dominic. The statue of Saint Martin in the left transept was a gift of the ex-combatants of the First World War from Overijse.
The three beautiful stained glass windows behind the main altar are by the hand of J.-B. Capronnier. They tell the story of Saint Martin. You can find a modern stained glass window from 1987 on the left side of the choir. It was made by local artist Jean Rigaux.
Sources :
Inventory Architectural heritage
Local History Society De Beierij van Ijse (www.beierij.be)
Photos
Remarkable elements
Glass window Jean Rigaux with history of Overijse
The first stained glass window in the choir is a modern creation of Jean Rigaux (designed in 1975, placed in 1987). It depicts several scenes and symbols of the history of Overijse. The three big windows behind the altar are made by the great artist Capronnier and represent three events from the life of the patron saint Martin.
Saint Martin
The polychrome wooden statue of Saint Martin was a gift from the veteran association of World War I.
Panelling with confessionals
The wooden panelling with confessionals dates back to 1880.
Crypt of the Princes of Horne
The crypt of the Princes of Horne was opened in 1881 or 1883. A stair with five steps descended into a vaulted room where twelve big and three small lead coffins lay. A big wooden coffin contained the heart (in a lead casing) of Mary-Theresa of Horne and one small coffin was broken. In the sacristy you can see a painted list of the family tree.
Side altar
The baroque side altar in marbled wood, like the one in the other transept, is presumed to be placed there in the first half of the 18th century.
