Sint-Agatha

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Kerknet

The first mentioning of this church goes as far back as 1155. The house of worship was at the time only dedicated to the Holy Blasius and was independent from the bishop of Kamerijk (Cambrai). According to a legend, a French princess suffering from an incurable chest complaint went to Saint Agatha, and out of gratitude for her recovery then went on to replace the chapel with a church in honour of this Saint. Landskouter remained under Kamerijk until 1559, then fell under the Mechelen diocese, and later under Ghent. Only since 1840 Saint Agatha became an independent parish.

It is a one nave cruciform church with three bays that constitute the nave. The remarkably robust western tower has three loopholes. The church was mainly built out of white-yellow sandstone from the pits of the Betsberg, on the border between Landskouter and Oosterzele. There probably stood from the 12th century onwards a late roman aisleless church which was subsequently extended and adjusted in stages. The sacristy in brick was added in 1897.

The entrance door with iron fittings, iron hinges and nails, leads to an evenly painted room with rib vaulting. The furniture is primarily in rococo style. The head altar carries the painting “Ressurection” by Jacob van Oost (18th century). The side altars are dedicated to both patron saints, Saint Agatha and the Holy Blasius. The confessional, the communion rails, the pulpit, the rood loft and choir stalls date from the 18th century and are made of oak. One is ought to take a close look at the five tablets in the communion rails on which Frans Hebbelinck depicted amongst others both patron saints and the Last Supper. The pipe organ (18th century) stems from Maldegem.

In the adjacent, renovated parish, cardinal Gustaaf Joos, a confidant of pope John Paul II, passed away. He once was a priest in Landskouter and was laid to rest next to the church.

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