Sint-Pieter en Pauwel
Markt
2400 Mol
Church | XV-XIX | Gothic | Roman Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 July - 31 August
Mon -
Tue 10.00 - 17.00
Wed -
Thu -
Fri -
Sat 13.00 - 17.00
Sun 12.00 - 17.00
Christmas holidays
from the second day of Christmas to the second Sunday in January (except 1st January) : 14.30 - 19.30
Saturdays 31 December 2022 and 7 January 2023: 14.30 - 17.00
Guided tour
Dienst Toerisme : +32 14 33 07 85 +32 478 54 89 44
Religious offices
Description
The church tower dates from the end of the 15th century and is 41.78metres high. The construction is typically Gothic in Campine brick.
The nave was rebuilt in 1898 in Neo-Gothic style. Above the doorway is a “Baptism of Christ in the Jordan». Near the door is a strange confessional for the deaf which was in the sacristy at the time to provide privacy for the people. The panelled and carved confessionals are the work of Andreas de Swert. Below the altar with the “Descent from the Cross” is a statue of saint Francis of Assisi in ivory and Congolese wood .
The parish provides a brochure explaining the details of the stained glass windows and of the sculptures. In summer the church holds a music festival.
Photos
Remarkable elements
Pulpit
This monumental pulpit was made in 1866 by Hendrik Peeters-Divoort from Turnhout. It depicts the life of the apostle Peter. On the top we see Peter with the rooster that crowed after he denied for the third time being a follower of Jesus. At the foot of the pulpit body sits Peter as the first pope. Angels carry the symbols of his papal function: the keys, the cross of the patriarchs, the tiara. On each of the 6 sides of the body is a bas relief showing an episode in the life of Peter. At the foot of the staircase are two guardian angels, one conquering evil, the other showing a child the way to heaven.Altar
The altar is designed by architects Fréderic Wattecamps and Nele Van de Craen of the company Architects in Motion (Turnhout). The altar and the lectern are conceived as a whole and are made from bluestone and carrara marble, materials used throughout this church. The altar was consecrated by bishop Paul Van den Berghe on the feast day of Peter and Paul, 29 June 2008.Crucifix
The late-gothic wooden crucifix in the front of the church was mounted on a new wooden cross in 1975. It probably comes from the old gothic church which was built in the same period as the tower.Communion rail and sanctuary lamp
The communion rail in black and white marble was commissioned by pastor Cornelis van Dongen in 1773 and built by the sculptor Jacob van der Neer (Antwerp). There are five bas reliefs: ark of the Covenant, chalice and wafer, missal and ampoules, table with loaves. The standing sanctuary lamp in the same style dates from 1808.Tabernacle Holy Thorn
The tabernacle on the side altar of the Holy Cross houses the relic of the Holy Thorn. Earl Baldwin brought the crown of thorns of Christ back from the crusades and gave it to the French king Louis who had the Sainte Chapelle built in 1239 to house the crown of thorns. He donated two thorns of the crown to the abbey of Corbie which at the time was owned by the guardianship of Mol. In 1599 the earl of Bocholt bought the guardianship and thus came to own the Holy Thorn which has since been kept here in the church. During the religious wars the relic was taken on wanderings around the country via ‘s Hertogenbosch and Mechelen.Font
The bluestone font in the south aisle carries the inscription “memento Mei O Mater Dei”. It dates from the beginning of the 16th century and was already used as font in the original church. As in many old baptism chapels, this font carries an octagon, a reference to the eighth day of the resurrection.Nearby
Heilige Johannes de Doper en O-L-V ten Hemel opgenomen
3271 Averbode (Scherpenheuvel-Zichem)
19km
Closed
