Saint Peter
Groenplaats
3621 Oud-Rekem (Lanaken)
Church | 1704 | Baroque | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
08 February - 31 March
Mon -
Tue -
Wed -
Thu -
Fri -
Sat 13.00 - 17.00
Sun 13.00 - 17.00
01 April - 31 August
Mon 13.00 - 17.00
Tue 13.00 - 17.00
Wed 13.00 - 17.00
Thu 13.00 - 17.00
Fri 13.00 - 17.00
Sat 13.00 - 17.00
Sun 13.00 - 17.00
01 September - 30 November
Mon -
Tue -
Wed -
Thu -
Fri -
Sat 13.00 - 17.00
Sun 13.00 - 17.00
Public holidays : 13.00 - 17.00
Christmas holidays : daily 13.00 - 17.00 (closed on 25 December and 1 January)
Guided tour
Religious offices
Description
Around the Groenplaats in Old-Rekem, proclaimed the ‘Most Beautiful Village of Flanders’, you can find the baroque Museum Church of St. Peter. This church was built as a replacement for the chapel that belonged to the castle of Count Ernest d’Aspremont-Lynden. The construction began in 1704 but was only finished in 1723 because of disputes between the clerical and the secular authorities. The church burned down in 1755 and it took until 1774 before reconstruction started. This new church was in use until 1956 when a bigger church at Kleinveld was built.
In 1969 the church of St. Peter became protected heritage. Since 1970 this church is functioning as a Museum Church in which various cultural activities are held. The decor mainly dates back to the 18th century. It has several striking details such as trompe-l’oeil effects, a stately procession door, a Roman baptistry and a Holy Well. In one of the steps of the altar rails a copper country rod (1787) lies embedded. It measures 4.4791 metres which used to be the gauge for all the farm steads in the former county. In addition this church also has a remarkable scaffolding.
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
Photos
Media
Remarkable elements
Main altar
The main altar, dating from 1723, was donated by Count ’t Serclaes de Tilly and Countess d’Aspremont Lynden, whose coats of arms appear on its baroque fronton. The older tablet and the turning tabernacle are notable features. The angel statues from Hocht represent Hope and Faith. The 1775 painting by Anton Zollinger shows Peter healing the lame, while the grisaille behind it creates a trompe l’œil apse.
Pulpit
The pulpit originally was installed in a castle church before it was moved to Sint-Pieters Rekem. After a fire in 1773 this Renaissance piece of furniture was damaged and afterwards restored based on classical style characteristics.
Country rod
Country rod of the county of Reckheim: a ruler from 1780 which measures 16 feet or about 4.5 meters.
Statues
The four wooden choir statues, once polychrome, were recently repainted. St. Peter appears as a seventeenth century baroque pope with tiara, pluvial, papal cross, and key. St. Norbert, founder of the Norbertines who served this church, is shown as an Archbishop with a monstrance. St. Augustine, whose rule they followed, holds a flaming heart. St. Roch, patron against plague, wears a pilgrim’s robe with staff, pouch, dog, and angel.
Crypt
The crypt was commissioned by priest Salm for him and his successors. He, however, is not buried there. Only his successor, priest Gilbert Dieu, was laid to rest in this crypt in 1787. From that time on only priests could be buried in churches.
