#bricks of clay a burnt stone chapel

[kociamieta]

they are real now. sadly

thank you @zarithial for their names !!!! in awe of your rain world naming powers

[aloneinstitute]

Part 2 Vlierbeek Abbey, Kessel-Lo, Belgium

Photo credits: Jokdev, Roger Stuyven,

This is a former Benedictine abbey that was established here in 1127 as a priory on land given by Godfrey I of Louvain. In 1165 the priory was given the status of abbey. Here the monks farmed the land and helped in the spiritual development of the area. For 200 years they worked to increase the size of the abbey and to rebuilt that that was destroyed by fire or wars. In 1170 a stone Romanesque church replaced the first church that had been built of clay or brick.

The abbey was burnt down in 1572 by the troops of William of Orange and from 1642 to 1730 and again from 1776 to 1796 the abbey was reconstructed.

During the French Revolution the French army occupied the abbey and the monastery was suppressed in 1796. The building and contents were sold off in 1798. The new owner, Jan Antoon de Becker was a brother of one of the monks and the monks returned in 1801 but only a few returned with the abbot and the last monk died in 1838.

In 1828 the abbey church became the parish church and in 1900 Boven-Lo became an independent parish and the former abbey church became the church of the parish of Vlierbeek. In 1830 and in 1837 the church and respectively the remaining buildings were given by de Becker to the church. Some of the buildings had been demolished and others were rented.

After WW II the population increased and an “abbey school” was established.

The Neoclassical church was designed by Laurent-Benoit Dewez. The central part is octagonal and topped by a cupola. The monk’s choir terminates in a square tower with an octagonal skylight.

In the church is a copper altar and lectern by Jacques Dieudonne’ made in 2004 along with candlesticks and cross.

The tower is 52 meters or 170.6 feet high designed by Laurent-Benoit Dewez (1731-1812).

The church is built of white limestone. The interior floor is of strips of black and white marble and Corinthian columns in support of the dome. In the choir are 3 niches with women representing the three divine virtues Faith, Hope and Love. Love is behind the main altar as the most important. Above the cornice above the main altar is statue representing God the Father. In the choir are heroic sculptures of Peter and Paul made by Jozefd Fernande (1741-1799). The Louis style pulpit from 1779. It was restored in 2001. The tabernacle of the main altar in Louis XVI style was made in 1780. The Our Lady of the Square was made around 1500 and was restored in 2005. The three bells were in the tower and were cast in 1772. One still hangs there the other 2 were taken by the Germans in WW II. After a fire in 1953 the remaining bell 300 kg. was recast and in 1959 two new bells of 587 kg. and 420 kg. were obtained. The statue “Our Lady of Vlierbeek” was stolen in 2004 and in 20019 a replica was placed in a chapel. A new “Our Lady of Vlierbeek” was carved by Veerle Achten of white limestone. The painting in the northern side chapel, “Let the children come to me” 1907 by Frans Nackaerts

1. (LKV 2.4) The choir with statues of Peter and Paul and personifications of Faith, Hope and Love.

2. (LKV 2.5) Niches in the choir have personifications of the Three Divine Virtues. This one is “Faith”.

3. (LKV 2.6) This one is “hope”

4. (LKV 2.7) Behind the altar as the altarpiece is the most important of all “Love”.

5. (LKV 2.8) Above the cornice above the main altar is statue representing God the Father.

6. (LKV 2.9) On either side of the choir are statues of Peter and as here is Paul.

7. (LKV 2.10) The statue of Peter.

8. (LKV 2.11) In the church is a copper altar and lectern by Jacques Dieudonne’ made in 2004 along with candlesticks and cross.

9. (LKV 2.11.1) In the front of the altar is a modern style cross.

10. (LKV 2.12) The Louis XVI style pulpit from 1779.

11. (LKV 2.12.1) A cherub detail on the pulpit

12. (LKV 2.13) Detail of Jesus on the cross.

13. (LKV 2.14) The tabernacle of the main altar in Louis XVI style was made in 1780.

15. (LKV 2.16) The statue “Our Lady of Vlierbeek” was stolen in 2004 and in 20019 a replica was placed in a chapel.

16. (LKV 2.16.1) A new “Our Lady of Vlierbeek” was carved by Veerle Achten of white limestone.

17. (LKV 3.3) The painting in the northern side chapel, “Let the children come to me” 1907 by Frans Nackaerts

18. (LKV 3.1) The three bells were in the tower and were cast in 1772. One still hangs there the other 2 were taken by the Germans in WW II. After a fire in 1953 the remaining bell 300 kg. was recast and in 1959 two new bells of 587 kg. and 420 kg. were obtained.