Saint Quentin
Naamsestraat 160A
3000 Leuven
Church | 1190-1440 | Gothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 April - 30 September
Mon -
Tue 13.30 - 16.30
Wed 13.30 - 16.30
Thu 13.30 - 16.30
Fri 13.30 - 16.30
Sat 13.30 - 16.30
Sun 13.30 - 16.30
Guided tour
Religious offices
Description
Historically and architecturally, the foundations of the church of Saint Quentin are Romanesque. The lower part of the tower (about 1200) is the oldest part. The rest of the church was built around 1450 by Mathieu de Layens and is classed as high Gothic, Brabant style. The choir was completed in 1453 and the nave in 1535 but it was not until 1900 that the spire was added under the direction of the architect Langerock.
Inside are 18th century stalls, several paintings by Josef Verhaegen and, in the north transept, “The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne” by Gaspar de Crayer. The organ (1786) by Van Peterghem comes from the College of the Pope, not far from Saint Michael’s church.
The Saint Quentin church houses the Catholic English Speaking Community of Leuven. The community includes people from all across the world, from the United States and Canada, to England, Belgium, and all over Europe; from Africa to India and Asia, and beyond. www.catholicchurchleuven.be
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
See the treasures of this church online on Erfgoed Plus
Photos
Media
Remarkable elements
Pulpit
The baroque pulpit in oak (second half of the 17th century) is decorated with busts of Christ, the four Evangelists and Saint Quentin.
Font
The baptismal font can be found in the baptistery under the tower, behind a wrought iron fence in Louis XV style (1765). It is a late Gothic stone font with inscriptions (1560) and a cover in chased copper with a counterweight (1779)
Choir stalls
In the baroque choir stalls (18th century) on the northern side one can see exalted female figures alternated with female herm images that depict the ‘virtues’. However, ‘Love’ and ‘Wisdom’ are missing. They were stolen in September 2002. On the southern side one can see exalted male figures alternated with male herm images that depict the ‘Apostles’ with their attributes. The Apostle ‘Paul’ was also stolen in 2002.
Paintings
The church still owns several paintings, including several works by the baroque painters Jan Jozef Verhaghen: “Ecce Homo” (1779), “The sacred countenance” (1778), “The mockery of Jesus” (1781) and Pieter Jozef Verhaghen: “Angel comforting Jesus in the olive garden” (1791), “Christ crowned with thorns” (1784), “The Flagellation of Christ” (1791). The painting “The Last Supper” is by the hand of the city painter of Leuven Jan Willems and dates back to the early Renaissance (1521). “The Procession to Basse-Wavre (1653, school of Brabant) is a unique time document of the last period of the plague of the Saint Quentin church. “The Adoration of the Shepherds” and “The Entombment” are both attributed to the Flemish school (17th century). “The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catharine” is an 18th century copy of a work that is also attributed to the Flemish school.
Tombstones
37 tombstones can be found in the church. The oldest grave is that of Leo van Lacousture ( 1561) and his wife ( 1573). Others buried here include: Jan van Strijen, bishop of Middelburg ( 1594). Catharina Van Dycke ( 1620), niece of Margareta of Parma. Golinus van ’t Sestich en Catharina van Vlaanderen (white marble, sixteenth century). Professor Johannes Libertus Hennebel, 18th century Philippus Gudelinus, alderman of the city ( 1674).
