Our Lady of the Assumption

The choir

The choir’s centre holds the Great Cross of the Missions, flanked by wooden statues of the Virgin and Child and Joseph and Child, with lively drapery typical of Jean Del Cour’s school, though now attributed to Arnold Hontoire. A 12th century baptismal font was also found, its basin adorned with feline heads of oriental inspiration. Its hammered copper dome is kept at the Namur diocesan museum.

The altarpiece of Saint Eloi

Saint Eloi is celebrated on 1 December in Ciney. His fair was once a major yearly event. This 16th century altarpiece, originally in the Saint Hubert Chapel, was moved in 1970 for town planning. Three small panels show the Miracle of the Forge, the Coronation and the Saint’s Funeral. Two larger ones depict the Carrying of the Cross and the Deposition. The missing central panel likely showed Golgotha.

The Chapel of the Rosary

This small chapel preserves its woodwork, altar and a 17th century altarpiece donated by Isabelle Dernelle from the former Récollets church. The confessional dates from 1665. Above the altar, a painting shows the Virgin giving the Rosary to Saint Dominic, and a wooden statue of St. Roch is also present. Besides housing the Blessed Sacrament, the chapel now serves confessors daily, hence its name: Chapel of Reconciliation.

The statue of Saint Materne

Under the rood screen is the tomb of its donor, Canon Fontaine de Morimont, who died in 1634. Saint Materne was Bishop of Tongeren and Cologne in the 4th century, and according to tradition, he was the first apostle in the region. He is associated with the legend of the name of the town of Ciney and of the "five born", children (from the same litter) of Prince Clement and resurrected by Saint Materne following an accident "outside the walls of the town".

The great organs

Built in 1872 by P. Schrijven, the organ has three manuals and a pedalboard. Renovated in 1850 by the Dresse firm of Namur, it received an electric drive while retaining its romantic style. Damaged by weather in 2010, it has now been restored and returned to the rood screen. During World War II, local population registers were reportedly hidden in its pipes to keep them from the enemy.

The old tombstones

The chapter of canons in Ciney led to the discovery of old tombstones. Some, once inside the Collegiate Church, were moved outside and set into the façade of the new porch built left of the tower in 1835. Around 1909, during the tower’s reconstruction, Léon Simon had the finest stones placed in the old porches and later hired unemployed workers to clear the cemetery, preserving many family names.

Download the plan of the remarkable elements