Votive Church to Saint Anthony of Padua
Place René Pêtre
7100 Bouvy (La Louvière)
Church | 1898-1903 | Neogothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 8.00 - 12.00
Tue 8.00 - 18.30
Wed 8.00 - 12.00
Thu 8.00 - 12.00
Fri 8.00 - 12.00
Sat 8.00 - 12.00
Sun 8.00 - 12.00
Religious offices
Tuesday : 9 am
Sunday : 10 am
Feast of St Anthony (June 13) :
mass : 9 am and 7 pm
Description
Here is a church which is certainly not very old nor with a heritage or furnishings of great value but which is interesting for its originality. It is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua and on account of this receives numerous visitors from outside the parish.
In 1895 the Catholic world celebrated the seventh centenary of the birth of Saint Anthony in Lisbon. Ursmar Coppin, an editor of Ath, vowed to build with the help of subscribers to “La Charité “ ( a monthly review dedicated to the cult of Saint Anthony) a church devoted to Saint Anthony in a populous site or in a place where prayers were lacking.
The devotion for the saint is still very much alive as many elements in the church indicate: In the choir and its ambulatory is a large recumbent statue of the saint; stained glass windows and bas-relieves depict episodes in his life and along the side walls are hundreds of plaques giving thanks for a prayer granted.
Recent improvements in the interior , the filtered light, the pastel tones of the repainted walls, new furniture for the altar and the lecterns, some statues and the terra cotta Stages of the Cross by a local artisan give a pleasant and welcoming impression.
The exterior has also been recently redone and is verdant with a small lawn and beautiful surrounding trees.
Photos
Remarkable elements
Choir
The choir is noteworthy for its stone and white marble paving. Now it is closed off on the sides by the original communion table which used to be placed between the choir and the nave. The tabernacle, coming from the first high altar, is highlighted in the centre of the choir. The door depicts Christ blessing and teaching. The tabernacle and the lectern, in the form of an eagle, were made in brass by Joseph Wilmotte,son, in 1902.
Virgin with Child
The Virgin with Child with a globe and sceptre is partially painted and gilded oak. (Neo-Gothic.187cms high)
Votive offerings
On the walls of the aisles of the ambulatory and above the panelling of the porch are 495 votive offerings placed there by pilgrims since 1902. In 1971 an original terracotta Way of the Cross by the local artist Jean Marichal was placed here.
Statue of Saint Anthony
The statue of Saint Anthony kneeling reinforces the paintings which illustrate the mystical union of the infant Jesus with Saint Anthony.(Raffl workshop,Paris).
Baptismal fonts
The bowl (17th century) is red marble while the stem and base (+/- 1900) are in black marble and the cover in brass.
Stained-glass windows
The stained glass windows of the ambulatory depict legendary episodes from the life of Saint Anthony: the healing of a young Benedictine, the confession of a sinner, the sermon to the fish, the miracle of the mule and the Eucharist, a grateful child and pilgrims invoking the saint. The axial chapel windows show the apparition of the Infant Jesus, the bread of the poor, and Anthony as papal advisor. Known as the “Chapel of Saint Anthony Recumbent,” it also contains statues venerated by pilgrims.
