Saint Peter
Koningin Astridplein
9150 Bazel (Kruibeke)
Church | 1364 | Gothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 March - 30 September
Mon 10.00 - 17.00
Tue 10.00 - 17.00
Wed 10.00 - 17.00
Thu 10.00 - 17.00
Fri 10.00 - 17.00
Sat 10.00 - 17.00
Sun 10.00 - 17.00
01 October - 28 February
Mon 10.00 - 16.00
Tue 10.00 - 16.00
Wed 10.00 - 16.00
Thu 10.00 - 16.00
Fri 10.00 - 16.00
Sat 10.00 - 16.00
Sun 10.00 - 16.00
Religious offices
Description
A Roman oratory, said in lost records to exist before 964, was replaced around 1364 by a Gothic cruciform church with a lantern tower.
When the ancient parish of Bazel was added to the Diocese of Ghent in 1559, major renovations began: the transepts were built and the choir renewed. Iconoclasts caused severe damage between 1578 and 1587.
During the 17th century, repairs followed and the church was adapted to High Gothic aesthetics, notably by replacing the wooden barrel vaults of the nave with stone rib vaults, hiding the original Romanesque upper lights and murals. Side aisles were added and later expanded in the second half of the century.
In 1879 the presbytery burned down. Restoration was combined with an enlargement to accommodate more parishioners. Architect P. Van Kerckhove, master builder of the Sint Niklaas city hall, designed the new structure: the façade was demolished and rebuilt one bay further back, and the stone vaults were raised by two meters to create a more spacious interior. The Saint Peter’s Church largely retains this form.
The interior and furnishings are highly artistic, mostly financed by parishioners. Several pieces, including the pulpit and confessional, were crafted by renowned 18th century Temse sculptors Adriaan and Filip Nijs. The classicist paneling, neo Gothic altars and choir stalls are also noteworthy.
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
Heritage bank Waasland
Film impression Saint-Peter church Bazel
Photos
Media
Remarkable elements
Pulpit
The pulpit (1727) with the figure of St. Peter, patron saint of the parish, is attributed to the artist Adriaan Nijs and the cabinetmaker Martinus van Caster. On the cockpit are medallions with busts of Our Lady, Christ and St. John the Baptist, between the symbols of the 4 evangelists: the ox, symbol for Luke; angel, symbol for Matthew; eagle, symbol for John and lion, symbol for Mark.
At the beginning of the staircase we see herms of St. John the Baptist and Moses.
Thombstone of Van Steelant
In the chancel lies the tombstone of Servaas van Steelant, bailiff of the Land of Waas, who died at the castle Wissekerke in 1607. During the last restoration (1998-1999) it was decided not to bury the tombstone under the floor again as was done during the repairs in 1879, when the new red floor of Rupelmond brick was laid.
Necklace
As court lady to Empress Marie Louise, Zoé de Feltz maintained friendly ties with the imperial couple. At the 1811 baptism of the king of Rome she held a special role: Princess Aldobandini carried the cap, while the countesses Vilain XIIII and de Beauveau held the water jug and salt vessel. Napoleon gifted Zoé a golden parure with amethysts. On 15 May 1852 she donated it to the Basel church; a replica is shown here.
Baptismal font
In front of the altar of Our Lady and next to the main altar is the baptismal font. This baptismal font consists of a hard stone tub and shaft, with a copper lid and is from the 17th century. The accompanying hingework (turret) is from the 18th century and is executed in beautiful ironwork.
Communion bench
In front of the right side altar, the Saint Peter's altar, stands a piece of the communion bench (oak), left over after the fire of 1879. This communion bench was made by Adriaan Nijs and dates from 1730. Pieter Stuer, inhabitant of Basel, who died in 1730, had donated the money needed to make a communion bank. It is a fragment that depicts the Lamb of the Apocalypse in a wreath of rays and clouds together with Eucharistic symbols.
Tourist corner
The “tourist corner” at the back of the church was created by De Ghesellen van Sint Pieter, who produced a CD ROM with reconstructions and a virtual walk through hidden areas such as the vaults and the tower. It can be viewed on the screen using the swivel arm controls. A 1/10 scale model of the tower was made for study. Opposite the entrance, 1879 plans show the church before and after the fire and the major changes that followed.
