Saint-Laurent
Place Nestor Outer
6760 Virton
Church | | Neoclassical | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 July - 31 August
Mon 9.00 - 17.00
Tue 9.00 - 17.00
Wed 9.00 - 17.00
Thu 9.00 - 17.00
Fri 9.00 - 17.00
Sat 9.00 - 17.00
Sun 9.00 - 17.00
01 September - 30 June
Mon -
Tue -
Wed -
Thu 9.00 - 17.00
Fri 9.00 - 17.00
Sat 9.00 - 17.00
Sun 9.00 - 17.00
Religious offices
Tuesday and Thursday: 8 am
Friday: 9 am.
Saturday: 4:30 pm and 6 pm
Sunday: 9 am and 10 am
Description
The interior of the church preserves an interesting pulpit dating from 1745 by the sculptor Martin Jacques, which comes from the former convent of the Récollets. The panels are decorated with representations of the four evangelists and the sower.
At the end of the 1950s, the interior of the church was redesigned by the Virton architect Alexis Bodson. Four stained glass windows by Louis-Marie Londot also date from this period. Other stained glass windows have been installed in recent years. At the back of the church, one can admire a large-format painting by Gaspard de Crayer in the early 17th century depicting the apparition of the Virgin to St. Bernard.
Since June 21, 2014, the church has been equipped with a carillon of 11 bronze bells. Their sound is of great purity and the melodies were recorded with the help of Camille Bodson, a great musician from Gaume.
From the website www.soleildegaume.be
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
Photos
Remarkable elements
The lactation of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
This 17th century painting was created by Gaspard de Crayer. This painter was born in 1582 in the city of Antwerp and belonged to the Flemish school. This impressive painting depicts Saint Bernard in religious clothing and in adoration of the Blessed Virgin who appears to him with the child Jesus on her lap. Her right hand presses her breast from which a few drops of milk flow.
This work originally hung in the church choir.
Pulpit
The oak pulpit in 17th century style, would nevertheless date from 1745 and belonged back then to the old church of the Recollects, the current Gaumais museum.
As for the sculpture, the middle panel depicts the Sower and on the side panels one can see the four Evangelists. Above the soundboard, there’s a depiction of the pope with a monstrance in hand, with which he is slaying a dragon.
Stained glass windows
Five stained glass windows by Louis-Marie Londot. Born in 1924 in Namur and passed away in 2010, L.M. Londot then became famous for the first time in 1956 in the sacred art thanks to his polychrome decorations of the St. Peter’s Church in Beho.
Later, he was known for his remarkable stained glass windows in several Walloon churches, amongst which Waha, Marche-en-Famenne, Marloie and Virton. Characteristic of his art are his use of colors and the artistic wealth of their contrasts.
The resurrected Christ
Created by Camille Colruyt, goldsmith and sculptor (1908-1973) in hammered copper (Similor). Very early on in this artist's career, the artist’s predilection went to four meter high copper sculptures. This Christ dates from his third and last period, characterized by an ever grander austerity, where the technical mastery of the material serves the cleric content which clearly leads to contemplation.
Baptismal font (ca. 1960)
Red marble baptismal font, presumably from the village of Rance (Hainaut province). Lid made of bronze.
Way of the Cross
The Way of the Cross was created by the Brussels Painter Léon Pringels (1901-1992). Amongst his classmates, one can find Paul Delvaux, René Magritte, and Paul Hermans.
Tabernacle
The tabernacle in cast metal was created in 1963 by Denis Philippe (1912-1968) in the village of Waterloo.
