Open Churches Days at
Saint Catharine and Saint-Cornelius
Kerktorenstraat / Kosterstraat 2
1831 Diegem
Church | 1543-1654 | Gothic | Catholic Church
Meaning in 2026
Conference
6 June 2026 : 14.00 - 15.00Sammy Mahdi has an Iraqi father and a Flemish mother. He was raised with two religious beliefs: Islam and Catholicism. In this talk, he tells us how a religious belief can give life meaning…
Price
FreeContact
Marleen Van Keerberghen+32 476 68 67 28
marleen-vankeerberghen@hotmail.com
Organizers:
Kerkraad en parochieploeg DiegemOther events at Saint Catharine and Saint-Cornelius
More about this church
Opening hours
03 April - 24 May
Mon -
Tue -
Wed -
Thu -
Fri 17.00 - 18.00
Sat 16.00 - 18.00
Sun 15.00 - 17.00
21 August - 04 October
Mon -
Tue -
Wed -
Thu -
Fri 17.00 - 18.00
Sat 16.00 - 18.00
Sun 15.00 - 17.00
Religious offices
Description
This late Gothic church was built in sandstone from the Diegem area in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The tower dating from 1400 is the oldest part while the southern sacristy from 1775 is the most recent. The octagonal tower seems to be in the shape of a papal tiara.
The pope and martyr, Saint Corneille is depicted in several places such as in the side altar and in the 16th and 17th century statues. The furnishings are superb: the pulpit with symbols of the Evangelists, the confessionals and the stalls. The organ is from the workshop of Rochet while the organ case is decorated with statues by Delbas. One of the oldest masterpieces in the church is “The crucified Christ” from around 1500. The ornamentation of this church gives an impression of great richness.
The location of the church on a lively little square on a hill within a surrounding wall, which cuts out all the noise of traffic, gives the place a quiet, peaceful air.
Photos
Remarkable elements
Church building and the tower
The current church was built during the 15th and 16th centuries in sandstone. It was inaugurated in 1543. The older church which it replaced was approximately 400 years old. This old structure was probably taken down gradually because the influx of pilgrims required a bigger building. Diegem was the only big pilgrimage site of Middle Brabant at the time. The tower, shaped like a papal tiara, was built in 1654. In contrast with the Gothic church, court architect Pieter-Paulus Merckx chose a baroque style for the tower. In 1943 the Germans ordered the steeple to be pulled down on grounds of safety. The monument was numbered brick by brick, taken apart and conserved near the church. In 1951 the steeple was neatly reconstructed with the original materials.
Altar of Our Lady
This altar bears striking resemblance with the altar of Saint Cornelius and was also made by Michiel Van den Bergen (1649-1650). The altar piece was painted in 1840 by esquire Du Mortier from Tournai. It represents the fifteen mysteries around Saint Dominic before he receives the Rosary from the hand of the Holy Virgin Mary.
The Stations of the Cross
There are very few churches in which the Stations of the Cross blend in so well with the interior as in Diegem. It was decided to make a design in sculptured oak that would fit into the existing panelling. The fourteen stations were made between 1882 and 1885 by sculptor Fr. De Vriendt from Borgerhout. The result is a wonderful piece of art. The thirteenth station shows the contemporary pastor Ketelbant on the left, who ordered and promoted the making of this piece.
The altar of Saint Cornelius
The altar of Saint Cornelius, made in renaissance style, was ordered to be made by sculptor Michiel Van den Bergen from Brussels in 1642. Jan Van Houbraecken was asked to paint an altar piece representing the adoration of Saint Cornelius. On the painting we can see Pope Cornelius on his throne, wearing the papal crown and the triple apostle cross. He is surrounded by angels while pilgrims beg for his help. The history of Diegem is closely related to the history of the abbey of Kornelimünster on the Inde near Aachen, which immediately explains the adoration of Saint Cornelius here. Especially on Easter Monday many pilgrims still visit Diegem to call on Saint Cornelius to heal convulsions, whooping cough and epilepsy. He is also the patron saint of horned cattle.
Baptismal font
The area were the font now stands was originally the southern portal. In 1775 it was converted into a baptistery. On the bronze lid we can see the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Above the entrance to the baptistery there is a painting by the artist Bernaerts from Mechelen, which depicts the adoration of the shepherds (1813). The piece was originally meant for the altar of Our Lady.
